"Everything is completely up in the air right now," Fantilli told NHL.com on Wednesday. "I don't know what team is picking where and I don't know where I'm going to get picked, so it's completely up in the air."
The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the first 16 picks in the draft will be May 8 at NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. The draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Fantilli,
winner of the Hobey Baker Award
as the top men's player in NCAA Division I ice hockey this season, said he's taking some time off with friends in the coming weeks and will discuss the matter with his family and agent when he's ready to do so.
"I know there are still areas of my game I have to polish, and living on a college campus for another year helps you grow as a person, helps you grow as a man, and helps you mature," Fantilli said. "There's absolutely positives to both sides of it, but I haven't made a decision."
Fantilli's season ended April 6 when Michigan lost 5-2 to Quinnipiac University in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals.
The 18-year-old center (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel, led the nation in goals (30), points (65) and points per game (1.81) in 36 games.
Fantilli had five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship to help Canada win a second straight gold medal.
"We would obviously love to have Adam back but, whatever Adam decides, it's his career and we're fully supportive and he'll always be a part of Michigan," Michigan coach Brandon Naurato told the "NHL Draft Class" podcast March 22. "That said, guys like Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres), Matty Beniers (Seattle Kraken), Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks) ... they each played two years of college hockey. I think everyone's path is different. Adam needs to do what's best for him.
"I'll give him my thoughts and I don't think it's never wrong to be overripe, but I think Adam can handle it with his skill set and the type of person that he is, and his work ethic."
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