2023 NHL Draft: Columbus Blue Jackets select Adam Fantilli with Third Overall Pick

Adam Fantilli will be a Columbus Blue Jacket.

After months of speculation that saw Fantilli headed to the Anaheim Ducks, the Ducks ultimately went in a different direction, selecting Swedish center Leo Carlsson.

That left Fantilli available at #3, and Columbus did not pass on the opportunity to select the prospect out of the University of Michigan.

Here’s a look at Fantilli, with a link to our draft prospect profile.

“Adam Fantilli has every tool that an NHL team would dream of having with their top overall selection. He’s got the physical tools of size, strength, speed and lateral mobility. He has amazing puck skill with the ability to do it at full speed and in small area situations. He can protect the puck, put his shoulder down and power through a defender, or put it under a defender’s stick and put them through the spin cycle. His vision is high-end with the ability to find lateral teammates and move defenders out of passing lanes to open up new scoring opportunities. He has a heavy wrist shot and a dynamite one-timer.  The power play could run through Fantilli or he could be the trigger man.” – Austin Garret, Smaht Scouting

“Fantilli possesses everything a scout looks for in a top-line center. From his size, speed, and playmaking ability to his hockey IQ, puckhandling, and accurate shot, he has all the tools to be a massive difference-maker in the NHL one day. It’s only his first year in the NCAA and he’s already dotting the highlight reels with his slick one-on-one dekes, snipe show of a shot, power moves to the net and most of all, beautiful end-to-end rushes.” – Matthew Zator, The Hockey Writers

Welcome to Columbus, Adam!