Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets Agree to Massive Contract Extension, Details Revealed Before NHL Season

The Columbus Blue Jackets have resolved the contract dispute that led to center Adam Fantilli sitting out the start of training camp.

Fantilli and the Blue Jackets have agreed to a six-year, $13.75 million AAV extension that runs through the 2031-32 season, the team announced Thursday.

The new deal comes just one week before the Blue Jackets are set to open the regular season next Thursday against the visiting Buffalo Sabres.

Fantilli was selected by the Jackets with the third pick of the 2023 draft. He previously hit restricted free agency following the expiration of his three-year, $950,000 AAV entry-level contract.

Both players selected ahead of him in that draft also received massive extensions this offseason in the Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard (five years, $15 million AAV) and Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson (five years, $18 million AAV).

Fantilli is now playing on the NHL's fifth-highest cap hit this season behind Carlsson, Bedard, Kirill Kaprizov and Leon Draisaitl, per PuckPedia.

The center is heading into his age-22 season having recorded career highs in assists (35) and points (59) while playing all 82 games for a second straight season with the Jackets.

Those numbers made him the club's third most-productive player outside of Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and linemate Kirill Marchenko in a campaign during which the Blue Jackets made a push for a return to the playoffs before slumping down the stretch.

Locking Fantilli down on a new deal is especially important for the Blue Jackets when considering the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Werenski and Marchenko.

The Blue Jackets included Werenski in a trade to the Dallas Stars that was ultimately vetoed by the player, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

Both Werenski and general manager Don Waddell later released statements saying Werenski, who is currently signed through the 2027-28 season and becomes eligible for an extension next July, wanted to stay with the team.

Other questions surround the status of Marchenko, who is currently set to hit restricted free agency next offseason but whose agent has said doesn't plan to re-sign with the Jackets, per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

Marchenko did not provide definitive answers when asked last week if he wanted to be playing in Columbus.

Whether the Blue Jackets ultimately consider trading Marchenko ahead of the March 2027 deadline could depend on whether Waddell feels his team has a shot at the playoffs. Making sure Fantilli is available to serve as first-line center will be key to the Jackets' hopes of making their first postseason appearance in seven years.