Columbus Blue Jackets Select Adam Fantilli #3 Overall

After falling one spot in the NHL Draft Lottery on May 8th, things felt pretty bleak for the Blue Jackets. They had just come off of one of the worst seasons in franchise history, and it felt like their lottery luck again left them one spot behind the player they really wanted. But luck turned around on Tuesday night, as the Jackets saw their coveted future #1 center fall right into their laps. Is the curse finally over?

Much of the 5th line had their fingers crossed all day yesterday, hoping that the draft could shake out like this. Hockey insiders around the world talked quite a bit over the last couple of weeks about the Anaheim Ducks going in a different direction. But we’re Jacket fans, and we know from a long, complicated history, that these things almost never go our way. But indeed, the Ducks took the big Swede Leo Carlsson – leaving center much desired Adam Fantilli became a reality at third overall.

Adam Fantilli, 6’2″, 194 pounds

University of Michigan (NCAA)

1st round (#3 overall), 2023 NHL Draft

Playstyle comparisons: Jack Eichel, Tyler Seguin

NHL upside: high end #1 center

NHL ETA: 2023

In less than 15 minutes, the future of the Blue Jackets went from many questions, to one clear and vibrant answer. There will be no “wait and see” if Leo Carlsson is ready to play in the NHL this year for us. We don’t have to wonder if Will Smith really was as highly thought of by our scouting staff – or even how long it will be until we see him in the NHL.

By selecting Adam Fantilli, the Blue Jackets just secured the most highly regarded prospect they’ve ever had. In most years, this guy is easily the top pick in the draft – and a darn good one at that. He’s an electrifying talent with good size, physicality, speed, great hands, and all-around playmaking and goal scoring capabilities. He just won the Hobey Baker award as the best player in college hockey, becoming just the third freshman to win that award. The other two? NHL Hall of Famer Paul Kariya, and Jack Eichel, who just won the Stanley Cup as the #1 center for the Vegas Golden Knights.

In my opinion, Fantilli is ready to step right into the NHL and play in a prominent role this fall. Naturally, that will be up to him and the Blue Jackets to ultimately decide; but from a skill/talent and physical maturity perspective, he can be a top-two center on this team right away. He doesn’t have much to prove at the NCAA level, so unless he has a national championship run on his mind, I think he’s on the roster in October.

From an upside perspective, the sky really is the limit here. I think he has the potential to be an elite #1 center, the kind of player that can put up 100 points in this league, while playing in all situations. I also think this is exactly the kind of player you want when the playoffs come around and the games really start to ramp up in physicality. He has the “mash” to go into the corners and win puck battles, which makes him the perfect fit alongside play drivers like Johnny Gaudreau or Kent Johnson.

Ultimately, I think the Jackets had Fantilli as the second best prospect on their draft board. And honestly, he’s probably the player they really needed to come out of this draft with the most. Yes, if you’re picking first overall, you have to take Connor Bedard … he’s on his own planet. But, Bedard might be a winger in the NHL. Fantilli is the big, supremely talented future #1 center we have long desired. They have to be ecstatic that he fell into their laps – I know I am.