What Does Adam Fantilli’s Next Contract Look Like?

Adam Fantilli had to wait until pick No. 3 to hear his name called by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Three years later, he’s experiencing a bit of deja vu regarding his next contract. His draft class colleagues have already locked up their next contracts while he remains waiting. Leo Carlsson, who was taken No. 2, signed a Philadelphia Flyers offer sheet at five-years, $90MM ($18MM AAV) that eventually was matched by the Anaheim Ducks, and Connor Bedard, selected No. 1 overall, signed a five-year deal as well at $75MM ($15MM AAV).

So, how long before Fantilli can put pen to paper? According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Fantilli’s camp and the Jackets have been progressing in contract talks, with GM Don Waddell having spoken to Fantilli’s agent, Pat Brisson, every day prior to his vacation. Zach Werenski, who spoke to the media recently, is sure this deal will get done as Fantilli is back in Michigan.

“I wouldn’t be too worried. I haven’t had in-depth convos with him obviously,” said Werenski via Mark Sheig, “I ask him and he wants to be here and he’s putting the work in.”

Both Carlsson and Bedard’s contracts are among the top of the NHL in terms of cap hit and how much they take up their team’s payroll. Next year, Carlsson will fill a whopping 17.31% of the Ducks’ cap hit, and Bedard opted for a little less, at 14.42%, even though statistically, he is better than his Swedish colleague and has scored 60 more points. Both players will be taken into UFA expiration after the 2030-31 season.

That production and value can be said when discussing Bedard’s pedigree (203 career points) over Fantilli as well, with Fantilli producing one less career point (140) than Carlsson (141). Carlsson took the larger number and seemed to have truly set the market for younger players with the high cap hit taken. However, with the Blackhawks paying Bedard $3MM less than that each season, it creates some wiggle room for Columbus to work with when discussing an annual number.

The other consideration is the term of the next contract for the Blue Jackets. How many years? Fantilli was projected with two contracts, a short-term at two-years, which seems more unlikely given how the bar has been set, and a long-term deal at eight-years, $80MM ($10MM AAV) per AFP Analytics. Before the new CBA kicks in, that eight-year contract remains possible; however, given the front-loaded money that these players have commanded within a shorter window, Columbus may not be able to benefit from the luxury of a contract that long and secure.

An anonymous league source who spoke with Portzline said the hope would be for a term between five and seven years. Nearly 20 contracts in the NHL that begin next year last until the 2030-31 season ends. Extend that length to seven years, and fewer than ten players who start new contracts in 2026-27 are committed to that ‘long-term’ contract. So if Fantilli wants to evaluate his value and continue to keep tabs on where Bedard and Carlsson will go with theirs, it’s likely he’ll also take the shorter window of five seasons and reevaluate himself for a potentially even bigger bag if he continues to grow into his unrestricted free agent years.

The 21-year-old center finished his 2025-26 season scoring 24 goals for 59 points in a full 82-game campaign with the Blue Jackets. Fantilli is one of three RFAs the Blue Jackets have yet to sign this offseason, with 23-year-old forward Cole Sillinger and goaltender Jet Greaves inked to new deals, all eyes are on No. 19’s situation. The Blue Jackets have around $13MM in cap space to work with as of right now.