Adam Fantilli pick draws rave reviews in 2023 NHL Draft grades
Michigan hockey star and Hobey Baker winner Adam Fantilli slid to No. 3 in the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday in what was considered be the coup of the night. In any other draft class, he would have had a legitimate claim for the No. 1 overall selection, but special circumstances allowed the Columbus Blue Jackets to swipe him after the Anaheim Ducks passed at No. 2.
The Blackhawks went with the expected pick in generational prospect Connor Bedard at No. 1 before the Ducks surprised everyone and selected Leo Carlsson. The Blue Jackets wasted no time bringing in Fantilli after that.
Naturally, this drew plenty of praise from across the hockey world. Here is a sampling of what the pundits are saying about the Michigan center.
Sporting News
It’s doubtful that the Blue Jackets thought Adam Fantilli would be available at No. 3, but with the Ducks taking Carlsson at No. 2, Columbus lands the Michigan product. The 2023 Hobey Baker Award winner possesses an excellent shot, he has a ton of speed, and he uses his size to his advantage along the walls. Fantilli is big, he’s skilled and is the No. 1 center that Columbus desperately needed. Grade: A+
CBS Sports
The Anaheim Ducks pulled off a slight surprise when they selected Leo Carlsson with the No. 2 overall pick, and that allowed the Blue Jackets to slide in behind them and select Adam Fantilli with the No. 3 overall pick. Fantilli was considered by many to be the obvious No. 2 player in the draft class, so the Blue Jackets got a decent consolation prize for missing out Bedard.
In the 2022-23 season, his first with the Michigan Wolverines, Fantilli totaled 65 points (30 goals and 35 assists) in just 36 games. That earned him the Hobey Baker Award and Big Ten Tournament MVP honors. In other years, that type of pedigree would be good enough to make Fantilli the top selection in the draft, but this year, he was behind Bedard. That wound up benefitting the Blue Jackets, who have experienced poor luck in the draft lottery.
The Athletic
Fantilli looks like a future NHL star and cornerstone for Columbus. He checks every box you want in a premium player: size, skating, offense and physicality. He becomes the most important part of their rebuild, and someone who could potentially be in the league for them next season as they try to win. Now with Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Kent Johnson in the organization, they have options down the middle with significant talent, something they haven’t had in arguably their franchise’s existence.
Bleacher Report
The Blue Jackets get a first-overall type of player with the third overall pick. He’s a 200-foot, two-way center whom the team should be able to build around for the next decade-plus. Ignoring Michkov, whose circumstances are complicated, Fantilli was far and away the best player available. Grade: A+
For The Win
In any other draft, Fantilli would have been the No. 1 overall pick due to his power forward skill set and can handle the puck with ease. Fantilli’s a big body and knows how to use it, as he’s able to create space in the offensive zone to help himself and his teammates score. Safe to say Columbus wasn’t expecting Fantilli to fall into their laps in this draft! Grade: A+
