Fantilli, top 2023 NHL Draft prospect, is frontrunner for NCAA award

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft is scheduled to be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28-29. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Adam Fantilli never considered the fact that he could be a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey as a freshman this season.
At this stage, however, the University of Michigan center (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) could be the favorite to win the award.
Fantilli, No. 2 on
NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel
, has been an offensive force in the college ranks from the moment he stepped on the ice. He began the season with an eight-game point streak (eight goals, 10 assists) and currently leads all NCAA players with 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists) in 26 games.
Harvard junior forward Sean Farrell (Montreal Canadiens) is second with 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 25 games.
"Honestly, [the Hobey Baker Award] never crossed my mind, even in the offseason," Fantilli said. "With the guys coming back ... Matthew Knies (University of Minnesota) and Luke Hughes (Michigan) back for another season in the Big 10, I didn't even think about it. I was trying to have the best rookie year, trying to have the best freshman year I could have. So the fact I'm in the conversation for that is an honor and I'm really grateful for it.
"I mean, I'm trying to keep my eyes focused on our team and going as far as we can together so that's pretty much where I'm at."
The top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award will be named March 15; the winner will be announced April 7.

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**