Fantilli signs 6-year, $82.5 million contract to end impasse with Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS -- Adam Fantilli is ready to get back to work for the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a six-year, $82.5 million contract on Thursday.

“I don't feel like I'm far behind at all,” said Fantilli, who has missed the first eight days of training camp, including three preseason games, because of contract negotiations. “... It was really tough. It was a long offseason. I started training in April, and then to have the training camp start date come and go and not be there with the boys, it (stunk).”

Fantilli, who was a restricted free agent, had a career-high 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games last season. Selected by Columbus with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old center has 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists) in 213 regular-season games.

He practiced Friday but will not play in the Blue Jackets' final preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. 

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said signing Fantilli, who he views as a cornerstone of the franchise, through the 2031-32 season was critical. The contract, which was signed during the press conference, has an average annual value (AAV) of $13.75 million. Fantilli received a $10 million signing bonus.

“You heard me say a long time ago that the young players of this organization, we want them here for a long time,” Waddell said. “And as I said, we need to make the playoffs. If we start making the playoffs, we stop talking about making the playoffs and how we're going to win a (Stanley) Cup. And you're only going to do that if you continue to be able to bring your young players along.

“So, to be able to get a player of Adam's stature for six years, at least six years, because you don't know what's going to happen after that, is huge for this franchise and we're excited about it.”

Columbus (40-30-12) finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division and had 92 points last season, its most since 2018-19 (98), but failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight season.

“I'm just super excited to get back out there and to compete again,” Fantilli said. “I mean, the last two seasons left a really sour taste in my mouth. We've missed out on the playoffs just barely, so it's nonnegotiable this year. We’ve got to make it there, and once we're there, we've got to try and make a splash.”

Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness did send Fantilli video from every practice so he could review the systems, especially the power play.

“I didn't want to miss the first day of camp,” Fantilli said. “I tried to get here as quick as possible, but yeah, I didn't want to miss any games in the regular season at all. It played a big factor, right? Like that's probably the hardest deadline there is.

“I wanted to get out there with the guys as quick as possible. Not only that, but to have time to practice with them and get in the flow of all our drills and systems and everything. So, I'm excited that I'm here now and I have time to get acclimated.”

Fantilli will have less than a week to do that, with the Blue Jackets set to open their regular season against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 1.

“I'm just really grateful to have this opportunity to be here in Columbus for the next six years,” Fantilli said. “The fans were great through this whole process, my teammates were great through this whole process.

“I'm really excited about where we're going. We’ve got a lot of great pieces, and everyone's continuing to grow and get better and everyone has that hunger to get better, too.”