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Player Discussion: Adam Fantilli

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Got to meet him today. Very good dude. Very much appreciates the fans and kids coming to see him. Can tell he’s very pumped to have all the attention on him in development camp. Think he’s pretty popular amongst the guys too with how much they rag on him. I think he’s going to be a good one.
 
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The Blue Jackets wrapped up development camp on Wednesday at a suburban ice rink. Adam Fantilli, just one week after the Jackets made him the No. 3 pick at the NHL Draft, was the main draw all week, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans long after the sessions ended each day.

He was pretty good on the ice, too. His “Michigan goal” was the highlight of Sunday’s opening session, and he scored four goals in the end-of-camp scrimmage on Wednesday. The first one was scored just 31 seconds into the game.

Here are seven observations from the four-day camp:

1. Fantilli’s a leader​

You would expect Fantilli to stand out on the ice, and he did. He’s 6-foot-2, but he gets up on his skates like a much smaller player. The ability to make plays at high speed was on display Wednesday. The game was played four-on-four for two periods and three-on-three for the third, and Fantilli feasted on the open ice.

He also showed something else: Before the puck dropped and during stoppages, it was often Fantilli who brought the group together with a message before they broke up to take draws and resume play. This was Fantilli’s first development camp, and he was surrounded by players who have been to two or even three camps.

“That’s one of the reasons we had him so high (on our draft board), why we think so highly of him,” Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. “He’s a very mature young man who takes his job seriously. Leadership is always expected from players of that caliber, and he’s shown that this week.”

It can be a challenge for an 18-year-old hotshot to fit into an NHL dressing room, but Fantilli is humble enough — and certainly respectful enough — that he shouldn’t have any issues.

After each of the sessions, he spent time signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, who showed up in droves. The parking lot at OhioHealth Chiller North was packed. So were the bleachers, sending fans three deep around the rink.

“I remember being a little kid in Toronto when guys came through there, and I’d want to stop and take a picture with them and watch them play,” Fantilli said. “I’m happy that I’m able to be that guy.

“The warm welcome (in Columbus) has been amazing. I’m super excited to be back in the fall.”
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This kid is a star. On ice he will probably be fantastic but the league has a likeable, smart and approachable face to market and best of all.. he's ours. He will bring recognition and a new (band wagon?) fan base that will spotlight the CBJ. I think that can be banked on as a lead pipe lock.
 
KJ Dangler said:
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For once it feels great to be a jackets fan . Was reading the Docks board to get a read on their development camp.. doesnt seem like Carlsson put on the spectacle that was Adam Fantilli in his debut .. Verbeek sure took a big gamble , I sure don’t get it , unless Carlsson becomes a much more dynamic offensive player . Still can’t believe Fantilli slid to us
 
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KJ Dangler said:
For once it feels great to be a jackets fan . Was reading the Docks board to get a read on their development camp.. doesnt seem like Carlsson put on the spectacle that was Adam Fantilli in his debut .. Verbeek sure took a big gamble , I sure don’t get it , unless Carlsson becomes a much more dynamic offensive player . Still can’t believe Fantilli slid to us
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Carlssons game isn’t built on spectacles like development camp. He’s going to be a stud

That being said I am still so thrilled to have Fantilli. Very exciting player
 
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KJ Dangler said:
For once it feels great to be a jackets fan . Was reading the Docks board to get a read on their development camp.. doesnt seem like Carlsson put on the spectacle that was Adam Fantilli in his debut .. Verbeek sure took a big gamble , I sure don’t get it , unless Carlsson becomes a much more dynamic offensive player . Still can’t believe Fantilli slid to us
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Don't think it's a big gamble, both players going to be franchise centres and both fanbases will be happy with their players when all is said and done when their careers wrap up I reckon. Personally I feel it's silly to try and get a gauge on anyone on a 3v3 scrimmage, and some of the posters on HFDucks are how to put it nicely....reactive especially as so many were set on Fantilli.

It's not a surprise Carlsson is a bit fatigued having played around 90 games since September and his season only finished a month ago with all but a handful of those being the youngest player on the ice playing against men all season. That's taxing for anyone, let alone an 18 year old.

Glad Fantilli looked good for you guys too, he's going to be a fantastic player as well. Can't go wrong with either of them.
 
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KJ Dangler said:
For once it feels great to be a jackets fan . Was reading the Docks board to get a read on their development camp.. doesnt seem like Carlsson put on the spectacle that was Adam Fantilli in his debut .. Verbeek sure took a big gamble , I sure don’t get it , unless Carlsson becomes a much more dynamic offensive player . Still can’t believe Fantilli slid to us
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Carlsson’s game is predicated off being a playmaker and plays a different game. Both will be great players, I wouldn’t put an immense stock in 1 dev camp, when Fantilli has people in camp he knew and was comfortable and Carlsson didn’t.
 
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The more you read& listen about Fantilli the more you really have to get excited about his ceiling.

His physical tools are top top tier among draft players, his skating is elite.
Often as gifted prospects just take things granted and aren’t as driven as less gifted athletes.

& as the saying goes hard work beats talent.

Just in Fantillis case on top of his physical ”gifts” he seems Bedard level driven& will do everything he can to become the best player possible.
& that combo is really really tough to beat.

He could be special& I mean truly special in his prime
 
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I think the biggest difference between Carlson @ Fantilli is going to be leadership & star power. Fantilli seems to love the attention & is very comfortable being the public focal point Carson seems to be a quieter team player but not team leader.
 
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EDM said:
I think the biggest difference between Carlson @ Fantilli is going to be leadership & star power. Fantilli seems to love the attention & is very comfortable being the public focal point Carson seems to be a quieter team player but not team leader.
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That's a little early to say - could very much just be different styles of leaders. Research pre-draft didn't show me anything that doesn't make me think of Carlson as a leader.

It could be similar to Landeskog vs Mackinnon - by all accounts, both are very important to Colorado's room, but in wildly different ways... I don't think Fantilli has quite the 'jerk' style of leadership of Mackinnon, only a select few like Michael Jordan give me the same vibes of leader. But he could be louder and more marketable as a result, I see that for sure.
 
ProfessorFink22 said:
That's a little early to say - could very much just be different styles of leaders. Research pre-draft didn't show me anything that doesn't make me think of Carlson as a leader.

It could be similar to Landeskog vs Mackinnon - by all accounts, both are very important to Colorado's room, but in wildly different ways... I don't think Fantilli has quite the 'jerk' style of leadership of Mackinnon, only a select few like Michael Jordan give me the same vibes of leader. But he could be louder and more marketable as a result, I see that for sure.
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There's definitely different types of leadership. Boone Jenner for example isn't extremely vocal, but is very much a lead by example kinda guy. Fantilli on the other hand seems very charismatic and people tend to gravitate towards him and stick on every word. Carlsson very much strikes me as the lead by example type of leader.
 
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