2024-25 Player Review: Adam Fantilli Is the Future
Adam Fantilli has firmly established himself as a cornerstone of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ future. At just 20 years old, he tallied 31 goals, showcasing elite skating, puck handling, and a sharp shot.
Fantilli arrived with a reputation for leadership and a strong work ethic, which he’s continued to build on. Taking over the top-line center role in only his second NHL season—while the team remained in playoff contention—was a significant challenge, and he handled it impressively. Teammate James van Riemsdyk mentioned that Fantilli is learning to better use his size, influenced by Olivier, and is studying Nathan MacKinnon to model his game. Fantilli appears on a similar developmental path.
2024-25 Season Stats
- Games Played: 82
- Goals: 31
- Assists: 23
- Points: 54
- Plus/Minus: +4
- Penalty Minutes: 18
- 5v5 Corsi %: 47.2%
- 5v5 Fenwick %: 46.4%
- 5v5 Offensive Zone Start %: 59.5%
Contract Status
Fantilli enters the final year of his three-year entry-level deal in 2025-26, with an average annual salary of $950,000. He will be a restricted free agent afterward.
Season Highlight
After Sean Monahan’s injury in January, Fantilli stepped up as the team’s first-line center. His standout moment came in his home province of Ontario, where he recorded a hat trick in a dominant 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toughest Moment
There were few individual low points, but one occurred during an early April game against Ottawa, where Columbus was shut out for the second straight game. Fantilli was on the ice for three goals against in a 4-0 defeat that significantly damaged the team’s playoff chances.
Performance Grade: B+
While a 30-goal season would earn most 20-year-olds an A, expectations are higher for Fantilli, who’s viewed as a franchise player in the making. He posted more points per game than fellow draft pick Leo Carlsson (.66 vs. .59) but trailed Connor Bedard (.82). Notably, Bedard had much more power-play time, while Fantilli generated most of his offense at even strength—an encouraging sign.
Analytics suggest areas for improvement. Models like HockeyViz rate him poorly on defense, and other data sources place him in the lower third of offensive and defensive impact at 5v5. These models may overlook strong finishers or fail to account for usage context—Fantilli had the highest offensive zone start rate on the team and strong linemates, yet possession metrics didn’t match expectations.
Edge data shows that while Fantilli skates at high speeds and creates chances, he often outpaces his teammates, leading to missed or saved shots that quickly transition to opposing possessions. This reflects a style similar to early-career MacKinnon, who later refined his approach to slow the game down and make plays develop.
Fantilli is not a liability on defense, but improving in that area means helping keep the puck out of the defensive zone altogether. His raw skills and energy powered an impressive sophomore campaign, and with Dean Evason behind the bench and veteran guidance from Monahan, there’s every reason to believe he’ll take another step forward.
