Bold Prediction #3: Adam Fantilli signs an offer sheet, forcing the Blue Jackets to make him the highest AAV player in franchise history.
Prediction by Curtis Deem
I'm going in a different direction with the RFA predictions. I think that Adam Fantilli will get a massive offer sheet, forcing the Blue Jackets to match it, if they want to retain their #1 center.
Would we really be surprised?
After starting the season as the second line center, he moved onto the top line and made an immediate impact, setting a new career high with 59 points. He played in all 82 games for the second year in a row, and showed marked improvement in every metric-except for scoring stats.
He scored just 5 more points than he had in the prior season, not quite taking the step we hoped he would. But, everywhere else you look, Mo became a more complete two-way center this season. And, he did it on the top line.
The fact of the situation is, he is a bit of a unicorn. Every team in the NHL longs for this type of player. He's a 6'2" physical specimen, a center that competes hard on both sides of the puck. He's learned how to be better at the faceoff dot. He has a pretty well refined two-way game for a 21 year old. The only thing missing is a big points total, and that feels like it's just around the corner.
So, I would not be surprised to see a team come swooping in, and try to snatch him away from the Blue Jackets. The cost to pry away a player like this is almost certainly going to exceed $10 million against the cap.
Just with a quick glance, we should be pretty concerned. There are 11 teams that have the assets needed to offer Adam a contract worth $9,551,333-$11,939,166. All that would cost them is two first round picks, and one each in the second and third round.
Going a little further, if someone wanted to offer Adam more than $11,939,167 against the cap, the requirement is four first round picks. There are 25 teams that could make that offer.
Whether they are rebuilding, or in contention, any of those teams are a threat to make this offer sheet happen. Adam is the kind of player that would be an immediate upgrade down the middle for almost every team in the league, whether they want him on their first or second line.
The franchise record for AAV is currently held by the late Johnny Gaudreau, who signed for $9.75m against the cap. I think there is a good chance that Adam Fantilli surpasses that this summer, and it might be due to an offer sheet.
Our next bold prediction takes us back into the trade realm.
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