- GM Don Waddell says Columbus is ready to match any offer sheet on Adam Fantilli
- The Blue Jackets have kept more than $23M in cap space open to do it
- Read below for Waddell’s quotes and where Fantilli’s price sits after Carlsson
The Blue Jackets have no plans to lose Adam Fantilli to an offer sheet.
GM Don Waddell told the Columbus Dispatch that Columbus is prepared to match anything a rival team throws at its 21-year-old center. Waddell has kept more than $23 million in cap room open this summer, which gives him the money to back that up.
With Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet matched by Anaheim and Connor Bedard’s new deal signed in Chicago, Fantilli is the last big-name restricted free agent center still on the board. That makes him the obvious target if a team wants to force the issue.
The Flyers keep coming up as that team, since Danny Briere already swung big on Carlsson. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic flagged how awkward a run at Fantilli would get:
Reporting from Daily Faceoff pours cold water on the idea. Insiders say a Philadelphia move on Fantilli isn’t in the cards, partly because of the Cam Briere connection and partly because the Flyers don’t value him at Carlsson money.
Waddell isn’t sweating a bidding war either way. He was asked whether the Carlsson deal pushed up Fantilli’s price.
“That’s fair to say. The price of RFAs went up, and now it’s up to us to find a fair deal for all our RFAs.”
The two sides are still at the table. Waddell talked about where things stand with his young center.
“The good thing with Fantilli is that I talk to his agent all the time and we’re in a good-faith negotiation. As long as you’re talking, you feel confident that you’ll get a deal done.”
It’s easy to see why Columbus won’t let him walk. Fantilli set career highs last season with 24 goals, 35 assists and 59 points in 81 games. He turns 22 in August and keeps taking strides. Watch what he can do with the puck:
There’s other business to handle. Goalie Jet Greaves and center Cole Sillinger both need new deals too. That $23 million cushion is there to cover all of it.
Fantilli’s number jumped the day Carlsson signed. Waddell just made clear Columbus will match whatever a rival puts in front of him.
