2023 NHL Draft Diary: Adam Fantilli

Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan had been filing a draft diary for NHL.com this season leading up to the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, where the first round was held Wednesday. The 18-year-old center (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), No. 2 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey after leading Division I in points (65) and points per game (1.81) in 36 games. In his final entry, Fantilli provides his thoughts after being selected No. 3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hello, hockey fans.

The feeling is surreal to be chosen by the Blue Jackets. I've been waiting to get to this point for a long time and I'm so happy it's finally come. I'm so glad I was able to celebrate with everyone who means anything to me. They were all here, and the only person that couldn't be here was my grandmother. She was at home. She was just diagnosed with cancer, so she couldn't make the flight, but I'm thinking about her right now.

The enormity of the day didn't really hit me until I sat down in my seat (at Bridgestone Arena). I was kind of chilling and then it kind of hit me that we were there, and everything was going to happen. So it's been really, really cool.

It's awesome to be chosen by the Blue Jackets. Obviously, it's close to home (Nobleton, Ontario), it's a great fit and I felt it would be the right spot. There are a lot of past University of Michigan guys who are there right now, so being able to go in there and play with those guys, eventually, it's going to be great.

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I know Kent Johnson (who played at Michigan). He's a terrific hockey player and from what I've gotten to know about him, he's a great guy and really fun to be around. So, I'm really excited for that. I've heard a lot of great things from the guys who were playing with him at Michigan the year before I got there.

I haven't spoken with anybody in management on Columbus with regard to where I might play next season, or whether or not I might return to Michigan. Next week at Blue Jackets development camp, we'll start to have those conversations, but nothing right now.

Draft day was special, and to make it more special, I had the liner in my jacket set up. I had pictures of past teams I played for ... my friends and my family. Everybody that's here with me. And on the back of my vest I got a list of everybody that's helped me make it to get to where I am right now. It was great to have it done. I'm just hoping I could give them a shoutout, and being able to give my jacket away and walk down the hallway with my vest showing, I just wanted them to know that they were walking up there with me.

I was happy for Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson, who went Nos. 1-2 in the draft.

There's a lot of amazing players in this draft and a lot of guys could have gone anywhere, so I'm really happy for [Carlsson]. Getting to know him has been awesome. He's a great kid and terrific hockey player, so I'm excited to see what he's going to do.

I'm going to celebrate by seeing everyone as soon as I can. I'm really excited to see them.

The season has been surreal. I just want to thank all my teammates, all the management on all the teams that I played on, all the teammates and all the teams that I played on. My family, everybody that's here right now. I just want to thank all of them for helping me get here.

Thank you so much for reading all season, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did.