NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Blue Jackets selected Adam Fantilli with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Fantilli, 18, played the 2022-23 season at the University of Michigan, where he led the nation with 30 goals and 65 points in 36 games, leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Tournament championship and a Frozen Four appearance.
30 goals
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) April 7, 2023
35 assists
@B1GHockey tourney champ
Trip to the #MFrozenFour
@HobeyBakerAward winner
Adam Fantillis resume speaks for itself. pic.twitter.com/Eq89PMQZWv
With his outstanding performance, Fantilli joined Paul Kariya and Jack Eichel as the only freshmen to win the Hobey Baker Award.
All tied after two thanks to this from Fantilli pic.twitter.com/VWcO6Htiys
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 7, 2023
Adam Fantilli is a franchise-changing player. #CBJ https://t.co/gL89xmOHRP
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) June 14, 2023
Internationally, he posted 2-3--5 in seven games at the 2023 World Juniors and 1-2--3 in 10 games at the 2023 World Championship, winning gold with Canada at both tournaments.
ADAM FANTILLI GIVES CANADA THE LEAD! #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/RZDZEAXMWc
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 27, 2023
Read what Hobey Baker winner and top prospect Adam Fantilli told the media ahead of Wednesday's #NHLDraft. #CBJ https://t.co/GAI7xEuwpN
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) June 28, 2023
Widely regarded as the draft's best prospect behind No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, Fantilli projects to be a No. 1 center. In many other drafts that didn't include Bedard, Fantilli would likely be the No. 1 pick, so the Blue Jackets selected a potentially generational player at No. 3.
Can't stop A. Fantilli pic.twitter.com/2qnrZjVL1M
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 28, 2022
Fantilli joins Kent Johnson, Zach Werenski, and Nick Blankenburg as Michigan alums on the Blue Jackets.
