The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Adam Fantilli to a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million AAV) through the 2031-32 season, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today.
“Adam Fantilli has all of the tools you look for in a player – speed, size, skill – along with a competitive drive to succeed,” said Waddell. “He is one of the most exciting young players in the NHL and a big part of what we are building in Columbus, so this is a very exciting day for our organization and our fans. “
Fantilli, 21, has recorded 67 goals and 73 assists for 140 points with 72 penalty minutes and 520 shots on goal, while averaging 17:37 of ice time in 213 career games with Columbus since making his NHL debut in 2023-24. He joins Rick Nash and Pierre-Luc Dubois as the third skater in franchise history to record multiple 20-plus goal campaigns prior to turning 22-years-old. The center was selected by the Blue Jackets in the first-round, third overall, at the 2023 NHL Draft.
A native of Nobleton, Ontario, Fantilli set single-season career highs in assists, points, power play goals and shots in 2025-26 with 24-35-59, four PPG and 214 shots on 18:54 TOI, while skating in all 82 contests for the second-straight campaign. He finished tied for the team lead in even-strength goals (20) and ranked second in goals, third in points and shots on goal and fourth in assists.
The 6-2, 205-pound center set a single-season career-high in goals in 2024-25 with 31-23-54 in 82 outings, leading the club in goals and multi-goal performances (six). He became the fourth skater in Blue Jackets history age-20 or younger to post 50 points in a campaign and notched the first two hat tricks of his NHL career, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to record multiple three-goal games in a season. He totaled 12-15-27 in 49 contests in 2023-24 before suffering a season-ending injury on January 28 at Seattle.
Fantilli became the third freshman in NCAA history to win the Hobey Baker Award after posting 30-35-65 in 36 games at the University of Michigan in 2022-23. He spent two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel, recording 55-55-110 in 103 appearances from 2020-22 and won the Clark Cup in 2021. He represented Canada at the 2023 (gold medal) and 2025 IIHF World Championships as well as the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships (gold) and 2022 IIHF U18 World Championships.
- CBJ -
