Fantilli has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) during a 10-game point streak since returning from the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped Canada win the gold medal while playing on the wing in a bottom-six role.
"He's been a center his whole life, he's used to being a scorer and on the power play, and I'm extremely proud of him," Michigan interim coach Brandon Naurato said. "When he got bumped down to the fourth line, I talked to him throughout the process. There was no complaining. He wanted to win. And he was playing maybe 10-11 minutes at that time. He just did what he felt he could do to help the team, and I think that's abnormal for draft eligibles.
"It would be easy to point the finger, 'Hey, why is Connor Bedard getting this instead of me?' I thought the way he handled it was really mature."
Fantilli had five points (two goals, three assists) and averaged 11:31 of ice time in seven WJC games. He had one power-play goal and scored the game-winning goal against the United States in the semifinals.
Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, led all players at the WJC with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) and was named the tournament's top forward and most valuable player.
"Fantilli's**