Yesterday, the Blue Jackets signed Adam Fantilli to the largest contract in franchise history. We talked about the cost and the new expectations from the player's perspective. Today, we'll talk about the impact this deal has for this organization, and what it means for their perception around the league.
Throughout the history of the Blue Jackets, there have not been many star players. When there have been star players, they have rarely stuck around, aside from a few dedicated guys. In the early days, Rick Nash was an absolute superstar in the NHL, and he (rightfully) earned what was considered a massive contract early in his prime.
In July of 2009, the team signed him to an 8-year contract worth $62.4 million dollars. That was a significant amount of money to commit for one player, especially from a franchise whose expansion fee was $80 million dollars just a decade before.
At that time, it signaled a new direction for this team. Would they actually become a franchise with winning aspirations? Of course, we can look in hindsight and say "no way", but that doesn't change the fact of the situation. That contract was a big deal, because it kept Rick Nash in the Union Blue.
At $7.8 million per year, Nasher's deal was worth 13.1% of the league's salary cap. This was the first time our ownership group had sprung for one of these big ticket deals. That contract made Rick one of the highest paid players in the league.
Unfortunately, the franchise was listless, with no real direction and no help coming. In the end, he would play out the last few years of that contract elsewhere. We hope that this time will be different. I have a hunch that it might.
Fantilli's new deal is comparable.
There are obvious comparisons to Nash's contract and the deal signed by Fantilli yesterday. Mo's new contract pays him a nearly identical 13.2% of the cap, and makes him the highest paid player in Blue Jackets history by exactly $4 million per year. It's another landmark deal for this team, which leaps the pay structure forward beyond anywhere it's ever previously been.
With this deal, he becomes the centerpiece of the roster. At just 22 years old, he has committed to making Columbus his home for the next six years of his life. Like Rick, he seems like he wants to live here, and win here.
This time, however, it feels different. Adam is not the lone skilled player on this team's roster. This roster now costs right up to the league's salary cap. In fact, as of this article's release, they are over the cap by $1.2 million dollars.
While this ownership group has spent a similar amount of space on one player, this feels like the first time they have actually ponied up to build a true contender. Whether it works or not, remains to be seen.
Of course, their star scoring winger has decided he wants out. But, that doesn't feel like it's going to completely cripple what Don Waddell has worked to build here. In fact, if he gets a good enough return; it could actually help propel them forward.
Another first for this franchise: if Kirill Marchenko does get his way and departs Columbus, this might be the first time it's as much his own loss, as it is this team's loss. They can build a championship contender around Fantilli, and Zach Werenski, and Jet Greaves. Hopefully a bounceback year from Kent Johnson this year, and more growth from Denton Mateychuk, helps round it all out.
Either way, the Jackets have begun to have some continuity and an identity in their roster, which is something we can't say we have seen much in their existence. Sure, one or two guys have stuck around here and there. The odd Fedor Tyutin, Manny Malhotra, or Nick Foligno. You know, good guys that want to win in Columbus.
The difference here is, almost the entire roster is returning for a third consecutive year-and many of them are signed long-term. There are tweaks here and there, but the actual core of this team has not had a lot of turnover in recent years.
That's a step forward for this organization. Now, Adam Fantilli lies as its centerpiece up front. We can truly say at this point that it's on the players to start winning. If he takes that greater step and becomes the player I know he's capable of being, we could be in for a real treat. With or without Marchenko.
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