Adam Fantilli officially put pen to paper on a massive six-year, $82.5 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, marking it the single largest deal in franchise history. This colossal agreement finally slams the brakes on an eight-day training camp absence that had fans sweating through three preseason games. You gotta wonder if anyone really thought this deal wouldn’t get done, right?
The $82.5 Million Holdout That Paid Off Big
Walking in with his hair slicked back, face clean shaven, and rocking a Union Blue quarter zip, Fantilli’s smile lit up the room as he finalized the deal alongside GM Don Waddell. It was a long road. This contractual tango between Fantilli, his agent Pat Brisson, and the Blue Jackets had been going on since July 1, 2025, the very first day Fantilli was eligible to sign. Waddell wasn’t worried though, telling reporters, “Once we really started negotiating, there really were no breaks in it. It was daily, and I always felt we were going to find the common ground with it. There was going to be some give and take with it on both sides, but I’ve said all along this deal was going to get done. I just couldn’t tell you which day it was going to get done.” Smart move for Fantilli and Brisson to play the waiting game, right? They sat back, watched the RFA market like a hawk.
And boy, did that market deliver for them. Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere’s failed attempt to pry Leo Carlsson from the Anaheim Ducks with a wild $90 million, five-year offer sheet that carried an $18 million AAV absolutely jacked up RFA salaries across the league. We saw Connor Bedard, the 2023 first overall pick, re-up with the Chicago Blackhawks for $15 million a season over five years. Then Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 top pick, landed an extension with the San Jose Sharks for five years and an even bigger $18.8 million per season, though that one doesn’t even kick in until 2027! Even Cutter Gauthier, a 2022 fourth overall pick who was traded to the Ducks, signed in Anaheim for a six-year, $81 million extension. Fantilli’s camp definitely knew what they were doing, especially when you consider The Athletic had reported his asking price was around $15 million annually. All those other signings just kept pushing that tide higher and higher for Fantilli.
Back to Practice, Ready for Opening Night
So, with the biggest deal in franchise history now sealed, what’s Fantilli’s take on all the drama? “I had Pat [Brisson] fill me in along the way,” Fantilli said, “I’m no expert in this area of the game by any means, so I rely on him heavily. He was great. I learned a lot, but I just missed the guys, I missed the city, I missed the fans and I’m just excited that it’s over with.” You can hear the relief in that, can’t you? Missing the locker room, missing the roar of the crowd, that’s gotta be tough for any player. He’s clearly eager to get back to business.
And back to business he goes! Fantilli is hitting practice on September 25. He’s feeling ready to jump into the Jackets’ final preseason game on September 26 in Detroit. But not so fast, according to head coach Rick Bowness. It sounds like Bowness wants to play it safe, so Fantilli’s likely first game will be the Blue Jackets’ season-opener on October 1 against the Buffalo Sabres. That gives him a few more crucial days to get conditioned and truly ready for the grind of the regular season. What a moment that’s going to be!
This historic contract shows the Blue Jackets are all in on Fantilli as their future. The wait is finally over, the deal is done, and a huge chunk of money is committed. Now, let’s see what Fantilli does when the puck drops for real on October 1. The excitement is absolutely through the roof!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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