Record Blue Jackets Deal
Adam Fantilli signs a six-year, $82.5 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets.
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Key Points
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A comparable young center, Leo Carlsson, signed a five-year offer sheet with Philadelphia worth $18 million per season, which Anaheim matched. Fantilli was also a restricted free agent but had no arbitration rights; an offer sheet could have forced Columbus to match or accept compensatory draft picks.
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In 213 career games with Columbus, Fantilli has recorded 67 goals and 73 assists for 140 points, averaging 17:37 of ice time per game.
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Fantilli became the third Blue Jackets skater to record multiple 20-goal seasons before turning 22, joining Rick Nash and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
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General manager Don Waddell praised Fantilli’s “speed, size, skill” and competitive drive, calling him “one of the most exciting young players in the NHL” and a major part of the organization’s plans.
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed 21-year-old center Adam Fantilli to a six-year, $82.5 million extension on Wednesday, ending his holdout just before the season starts. The deal pays $13.75 million per year through 2031-32, making Fantilli the team's highest-paid player ahead of defenseman Zach Werenski. AP News reported that the contract comes one week before Columbus opens against Buffalo.
Fantilli, the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, recorded 59 points last season in 213 career games with the Blue Jackets. The deal ends negotiations that kept him out of the first week of training camp and brings Columbus closer to the NHL's $104 million salary cap for 2025-26.
Young Star Becomes Club's Highest-Paid Player
Fantilli has 67 goals and 73 assists in 213 games with Columbus, averaging 17 minutes 37 seconds of ice time per contest. The Hour noted that the 21-year-old Canadian joins Rick Nash and Pierre-Luc Dubois as the only Blue Jackets skaters to record multiple 20-goal seasons before turning 22. General Manager Don Waddell called Fantilli "one of the most exciting young players in the NHL" and praised his "speed, size, skill" and competitive drive.
Fantilli Avoided Arbitration and Offer Sheet Risk
Fantilli held restricted free agent status but had no arbitration rights, leaving Columbus vulnerable to offer sheets. Winnipeg Free Press reported that comparable young center Leo Carlsson signed a five-year offer sheet with Philadelphia worth $18 million per season, which Anaheim matched. An offer sheet from another NHL team could have forced Columbus to match Fantilli's deal or accept compensatory draft picks.
Contract Secures Columbus's Offensive Core
The extension locks Fantilli in as a cornerstone of the Blue Jackets' rebuild around young talent. Medicine Hat News confirmed the six-year length keeps Fantilli in Columbus through his prime scoring years. The deal signals the organization's confidence in the 2023 draft class and Fantilli's ability to develop into a franchise center.
Price Tag Reflects NHL's Rising Salary Demands
At $13.75 million annually, Fantilli's deal sits in the upper tier for young centers still building their resumes. SF Chronicle noted the contract reflects how quickly NHL salaries have climbed for elite prospects. Comparable stars signed for $15+ million annually in recent seasons, making Fantilli's rate a bargain for a player with his trajectory.
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