Fantilli embracing 'warm welcome' by Blue Jackets, Columbus

COLUMBUS --Adam Fantilli already knows the feeling of a sellout crowd cheering for him in Columbus.

If all goes as planned, the forward can expect more of the same in his rookie season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Fantilli received a standing ovation and heard chants of "CBJ, CBJ" when introduced to more than 20,000 fans at the Columbus Crew's Major League Soccer match on July 1, a few hours after the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft signed his entry-level contract.

The adoration continued over the next four days, when Blue Jackets fans filled the OhioHealth Chiller North rink to watch him at development camp. And in Buckeye Country, many wore Michigan hockey jerseys to honor the former Wolverines standout.

Fantilli, who will turn 19 when the Blue Jackets open their regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nationwide Arena on Oct. 12, signed for every autograph seeker and posed for countless photos.

"I remember being a little kid in Toronto, when guys came through there, and I'd want to stop and take a picture with them and watch them play," Fantilli said. "I'm happy that I'm able to be that guy.

"The warm welcome has been amazing. I'm super excited to be back in the fall."

Maybe not as pumped as those who have dubbed Fantilli "The Fanchise." The Nobleton, Ontario, native is viewed as a generational talent and, along with coach Mike Babcock, represent a new era after the Blue Jackets finished last in the Metropolitan Division (25-48-9) in 2022-23, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third straight season.

And why not?

Fantilli was the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award voted as the best player in NCAA Division I men's hockey (Paul Kariya with the University of Maine in 1993 and Jack Eichel with Boston University in 2015). He led the NCAA with 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) in 36 games to help the Wolverines reach the Frozen Four.

He also helped Canada win gold medals at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2023 World Championship and is projected to become the Blue Jackets No. 1 center, possibly as early as this season.

"He's got skills, he's got size (6-2, 195 pounds) and he can skate," Blue Jackets director of player personnel Chris Clark said. "He's the guy making plays and shooting the puck. He's definitely got the total package."

What impressed the coaches more was how Fantilli immediately took a leadership role at camp and was the one picking up pucks after practice.

"His character, that's one of the reasons we had him so high (on the draft board), why we think so highly of him," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He's physically ready. He's mentally ready to take the next step and the next challenge."

Kekalainen gave a simple answer when asked what Fantilli needs to do to meet lofty expectations.

"Improvement every day," he said. "Come to work with the mindset of being a better player. What can we do today to be a better hockey player and a better pro? We think he has that mindset. He's driven to get better."

Photos courtesy of: Gabe Haferman, Columbus Blue Jackets