Draft profile: Fantilli's total package makes him a top prospect

The 2023 NHL Draft kicks off Wednesday, with the Blue Jackets holding the No. 3 overall pick in what many experts agree is a high-end draft.

Highly sought-after wunderkind Connor Bedard is likely headed to Chicago with the No. 1 choice, but the Blue Jackets will still be able to a player with high-end skill in the draft. Among the potential choices are big, steady Swedish center Leo Carlsson, electrically skilled American center Will Smith, physical and talented Canadian center Adam Fantilli, and the wild card, offensively gifted Russian winger Matvei Michkov.

MORE: Draft consensus rankings | CBJ draft hub | RSVP for Wednesday's draft party

With that in mind, we're breaking down those four players the rest of this week, continuing today with Fantilli. Coming off one of the best seasons for a freshman in college hockey history at the University of Michigan, Fantilli brings a unique set of talents -- size, skill and physical play -- to the table.

We'll list Fantilli's bio info, his accomplishments in his career to this point, share an interview with the player himself at the NHL Scouting Combine and conclude with expert opinions on the standout.

Adam Fantilli: The Vitals

Position:Center

Age: 18 (Born Oct. 12, 2004)

Height/Weight: 6-2, 195

Hometown:Toronto, Ontario

The Accomplishments

• Ranked the No. 2 North American skater available by NHL Central Scouting after posting a 30-35-65 line in 36 games with the University of Michigan, leading the nation in goals, points and points per game.
• His 1.81 points per game were the most in college hockey since Kyle Connor had 1.87 at U-M in 2017.
• Became the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey, joining Paul Kariya and Jack Eichel. Also was named the top freshman in NCAA hockey and a first-team All-American.
• Earned Big Ten tournament MVP, Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honors.
• Posted five goals and nine points in five postseason games (Big Ten and NCAA tournaments) this year with Michigan.
• Recorded a 2-3-5 line in seven games with the gold medal-winning Canada squad at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Won a gold medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championships while posting a 1-2-3 line in 10 games.
• Was an alternate captain for Team Canada at the 2022 Under-18 World Championship, posting 1-5-6 in four games.
• Made the USHL All-Star Team in 2021-22 with Chicago after placing seventh in the league with 74 points (37 goals, 37 assists) in 54 games. Those 74 points tie him with Connor for the most ever in the USHL for someone in his draft minus-one season.
• Was named the MVP of the USHL's Clark Cup championship playoffs in 2020-21 after posting eight goals in eight postseason games for Chicago at age 16.

Get To Know Adam

Dylan Tyrer chats with Adam Fantilli

The Experts Say

CBJ radio host Dylan Tyrer has spoken to a number of scouts and draft experts leading into the draft on the Pipeline Podcast presented by Ruoff. Here's what they had to say about Smith.

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic:"The physical element that he has, that fiery competitiveness that he has, his upside is ultimately just a touch higher than those (other prospects). I think offensively they all have an opportunity to be first-line producers, produce at a point-per-game level in the primes of their careers. I think you're going to see in Fantilli, if he really figures it out and puts all the pieces together beyond the points, just a more impactful player. The way he skates, the way he's going to be able to get after it on the forecheck, those things are notches on his belt. … I think he's going to add elements to a line that some of those other guys lack while still being a very talented player, so that's I think the differentiator if there is one."

Chris Peters, FloHockey: "If you're viewing Adam Fantilli as a consolation prize (to Connor Bedard), you're understating his value. … He's close to 6-2, 200 pounds, plays the game fast, plays physical, has that goal-scoring ability, has the understanding of how to make plays, makes plays down low. He has some snarl to his game. I think that's the separating factor (from the other choices); Adam Fantilli has so many traits of a No. 1 center that you say, 'This guy is going to set us up for a long time.' … Adam Fantilli is a very special player. I wrote it back in October, this guy is not a consolation prize. Don't call him that. He has the potential to be a franchise building block in the same way as Jack Eichel. He is a comparable because he had that same draft year as Connor McDavid, and it's kind of that similar situation. They were thought to be close together, one pulled away, but even though things didn't work out in Buffalo, as we (saw) in the playoffs, Jack Eichel is a No. 1 center who can be a franchise building block. That's what we're talking about with Adam Fantilli."

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: "To me, Adam Fantilli is the second-best player in this draft, and I do not know how close it is. I think Leo Carlsson is going to be a really nice player, but if I'm sitting there at No. 2, it would be really hard for me to pass on Adam Fantilli. The skill set that he brings, the way he dominated NCAA hockey as an 18-year-old, he's playing in the World Championships for Canada -- that tells you what you need to know about his talent level."

Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting director: "I call it a college season for the ages for Adam Fantilli. It was truly exceptional what he was able to accomplish this year. He's had the skills and attributes and he has the offensive hockey sense and the smarts, but he has that physical component to his game to go along with his skill and smarts, which makes him very appealing. He plays to win. He plays that way where he utilizes his physical assets as well. I've watched Adam for three years now, and just the motivation, the self-discipline, the self-motivation that he displayed this year as a freshman, it was really fun to watch and it was truly exceptional."