This has been a hectic NHL offseason when it comes to contract extensions across the league. Massive deals have been handed out with the salary cap rising at an historic rate. Young players around the national are taking advantage of this market with the San Jose Sharks Macklin Celebrini cashing in for $94 million across five years and the Chicago Blackhawks Connor Bedard receiving $75 million across five years. Offer sheets have also been back on the menu with the Philadelphia Flyers putting $90 million for five years on the table for Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, with the Ducks ultimately matching in the end. After how the Carlsson situation went down, this has raised the question of whether there could be more offer sheets to follow.
One of those players who has been targeted as a potential offer sheet candidate is the Columbus Blue Jackets Adam Fantilli. Ironically, Fantilli was drafted right behind Carlsson in the 2023 draft as he went third overall after him and Bedard. Fantilli is in need of an extension this year as his entry-level-contract has expired. Fantilli recorded 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points in 82 games with the Blue Jackets last season.
However, the odds appear slim that a similar dilemma arises for Fantilli and the Blue Jackets. Columbus reporter Aaron Portzline recently dismissed these talks on NHL Tonight: "It's kind of quieted down best I can tell; you would assume if Fantilli was gonna get an offer sheet…it would've happened by now; I don't think there's much fear of that right now."
If there was concern over the possibility of a Fantilli offer sheet, this is a deal that would have likely been done by now. There has been no rush for Columbus when it comes to getting this Fantilli extension done, although they will need to put pen to paper soon with training camp taking place in less than one month's time.
Assuming that an offer sheet does not come into play, the next question is what Fantilli's eventual new deal ends up looking like. Considering the rate at which comparable young stars are being paid now, Fantilli should be placed in an opportune position to receive a hefty payday with this contract.
Portzline also discussed this manner on the show: "I've been saying like 13, 13.5 [million AAV]; I'm sure the ask is 14ish; I would assume correctly so that the ask changed when Leo Carlsson signed his offer sheet."
$13-14 million would be a high number for Fantilli considering he has not yet had that breakout performance. However, he is the most crucial piece of the Blue Jackets future core and has plenty of time to reach that star level that is expected of him. Not to mention, Columbus has the financial means to pony up here for their franchise player. If fortunes are to change for this organization that has historically struggled, Fantilli will have to be a driving factor in bringing this team in the right direction.
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