Player Discussion: Adam Fantilli

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Maybe wrong thread for this, but then why aren't there in-game adjustments? Too stubborn coaching staff, too early in the season or not enough HC experience? Or players (especially vets) should have made adjustments.

You and others have alluded to two possible adjustments: dump-and-chase or stretch passes behind the defense. Why weren't adjustments made during 2nd period (or at least between 2nd and 3rd)? Not beating a "coach sucks" drum here - genuinely curious because last night was first TV game for me. Game 1 from seat in NWA looked similar. Game 2 from seat in NWA looked different but still worrisome.
To my eye, it just looked like CBJ was listless as a group (with a few exceptions). I am not arguing that as a point - it may be that the insistence on the "advance as a group with short passes" strategy simply made it look that way. But not seeing much engagement, other than 2 periods vs. NYR.
Is it just still thinking about a new system and not "just playing" even for the vets?

Last night hurt my eyes, among other body parts.

Just spitballing, but it may be hard to make in-game adjustments so soon with a new coach and a lot of new faces. Players have to be familiar and synced on executing said adjustments, or everything just becomes disorganized.

 

[majormajor]

Just spitballing, but it may be hard to make in-game adjustments so soon with a new coach and a lot of new faces. Players have to be familiar and synced on executing said adjustments, or everything just becomes disorganized.

That was what I was thinking, you have to know your plan A before you start teaching plan B and plan C.

 

[ViD]

Mediocre

and Nope

 

[Forepar]

Oh there was adjustments during the game last night they just failed to execute it correctly. In the second Detroit was fanned out at the blueline to pretty much lock down any offensive zone entry and they were successful at it. The answer to get around that is to have the first pass from the defenseman to get a good stretch pass but we kept failing to make those connections. You can tell your players to do something but they need to execute it properly. These types of changes takes like 10-15 games to really get down to be second nature.

What really was the problem last night really is 2 fold. Veterans taking stupid penalties that chained into more stupid penalties and the other was they legit rolled over like they did last year during a blowout game. That's not a systems issue that's mentality that needs to be broken like now at this level of play. They were buzzing the first period the problem is most of the team went back to last year's mind state halfway through the second.

Just spitballing, but it may be hard to make in-game adjustments so soon with a new coach and a lot of new faces. Players have to be familiar and synced on executing said adjustments, or everything just becomes disorganized.

That was what I was thinking, you have to know your plan A before you start teaching plan B and plan C.

So is the "system" and the adjustments fundamentally different than Larsen's system last season?
Or is it more the number of new faces?

From a F perspective, there are not that many new faces (Fantilli being primary). So having a hard time with the new face reason, at least as to this group.
Tells me that the Vincent Plan A system (and Plan B/Plan C) are fundamentally different compared to last 2 seasons...I think?

From the D perspective, I get it, with Provorov and Severson both new, Jiricek almost new and with Bean having been out all of last year.
And with only 6 D, that's 2/3 of the D.

So apparently the massive discombobulation is caused by both. With that, do you see this getting markedly better after 15-20 games or is this what we have to look forward to for the better part of the season, with only marginal improvement until the last 1/3 of the season? Because while the system may be drastically different, to the semi-trained but maybe more accurately untrained eye, I mostly seeing the same train wreck during the first 3 games with a partial exception vs. NYR. And I don't see great things out of Gudreau or Laine...not trashing them, but they appear as lost as the rookies to me.

 

[MAHJ71]

 

[squashmaple]

I know the guy that made the “We signed Johnny Hockey” sign last year. I bet it’s him again. He lives right by campus.

Edit: yep! It was him. Mod, please fix the twitter embed for me because I don’t get it. I tried to change the c and everything. Thank you!

 

[CBJx614]

 

[Marioesque]

Just happy with him getting the first, it's gonna be a bountiful ride.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

Very happy for Fantilli. He's been very good and it's great to see it pay off for him.

EDIT: Also, it's amusing that Bedard, Carlsson and Fantilli got the monkies off their backs against Ullmark, Oettinger and Gustavsson, three of the top goalies in the last few years.

 

[BB88]

I’m very surprised by the comments in the mains by his start.

Feels like people don’t realize how difficult it is to jump into NHL and start dominating from game 1.

Even McDavid didn’t start dominating right away, it took something like 15 games for him to get reallt going.

Fantilli has looked very promising in his start, especially for a player in his +1 season& I really don’t see the red flags people were talking about last season with him (short sample size).

He’s build for todays league with his size, speed& shot.
He’s going to be a threat in his prime and push the play

 

[Napoli]

He's looked more and more confident with each game, he made a lot very smart plays this past game, not surprising that he scored.

When this team has a forecheck and is playing fast, there's a chance for the young guys to show off their skill.

To be honest he should have already scored, he has hit the post a couple times and was robbed against Markstrom. The talent is there and when he gets going in the neutral it's fun to watch.

The best part about all of this? His attitude, he seems like a great teammate that wants to be a star for this franchise.

 

[Crede777]

I think it's worth noting that he was in the middle of the offensive zone when he scored.

While Laine has not been bad at center per say and Fantilli was only 36% at FO's, I do hope Vincent considers swapping him and Fantilli moving forward.

 

[CBJx614]

I think it's worth noting that he was in the middle of the offensive zone when he scored.

While Laine has not been bad at center per say and Fantilli was only 36% at FO's, I do hope Vincent considers swapping him and Fantilli moving forward.

They don't need to swap them, just run Fantilli/Boone/Laine each with their own line. Spreads out the talent more and gives us 3 legitimate lines we can roll depending on who we play.

 

[stevo61]

I’m very surprised by the comments in the mains by his start.

Feels like people don’t realize how difficult it is to jump into NHL and start dominating from game 1.

Even McDavid didn’t start dominating right away, it took something like 15 games for him to get reallt going.

Fantilli has looked very promising in his start, especially for a player in his +1 season& I really don’t see the red flags people were talking about last season with him (short sample size).

He’s build for todays league with his size, speed& shot.
He’s going to be a threat in his prime and push the play

Jealousy and such. Also have people running around calling Bedard a disappointment and trying to start some Bedard vs Carlsson vs Fantilli fight. Just some randoms with bad takes as is the HF way. I just know im supposed to be disappointed in Fantilli because Michkov has more points in the KHL

 

[majormajor]

I think it's worth noting that he was in the middle of the offensive zone when he scored.

This isn't rod/stick hockey. Center is a position in defense and transition, but not so much in the offensive zone, and not on the PP. Some centers like to score from the slot, others score more from the halfwall.

 

[BB88]

Jealousy and such. Also have people running around calling Bedard a disappointment and trying to start some Bedard vs Carlsson vs Fantilli fight. Just some randoms with bad takes as is the HF way. I just know im supposed to be disappointed in Fantilli because Michkov has more points in the KHL

People should remember post 2016 draft we haven’t seen a drafted forward be an impact player from game 1 ->, as I said even for McDavid it took some time.

& posters claiming those are always fans who don’t even watch the games, just stats

 

[koteka]

It is interesting that he plays with a wooden plug in his stick. My kid used to like the wooden plug as well. We were just trying to give life to a stick he outgrew, but he really liked it. I wonder what the story is with Fantilli’s sticks.

 

[CBJx614]

 

[Cowumbus]

It is interesting that he plays with a wooden plug in his stick. My kid used to like the wooden plug as well. We were just trying to give life to a stick he outgrew, but he really liked it. I wonder what the story is with Fantilli’s sticks.

Changes the flex.

I have a Danforth stick that I use in men’s league, he also uses a wooden plug

 

[koteka]

Changes the flex.

I have a Danforth stick that I use in men’s league, he also uses a wooden plug

Yes, but I think a guy like Fantilli would be able to get a lighter custom stick with the right flex and kick point than putting a wooden plug in a stick. Anyway, that is interesting that a Danforth stick stick has one as well.

The shot of the plug during the broadcast also showed that it was slightly tapered. Maybe he just likes the feel of the end in his hand.

Or maybe it is just marketing for his dad’s wood shop business.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

One of the brightest spots in the darkness that is the Blue Jackets so far this season. Mature beyond his years. If he keeps this up, he should get an A on his Jersey next season already, in my opinion. He sure as hell shows more leadership than most others. Speaking of his jersey, I wonder if he will go back to #19 for next season now that it's free, or stick with #11?

 

[Cowumbus]

Almost 1/4 of the way through the season and he’s looked good for 19.

On pace to finish just shy of Kent Johnson’s scoring as a rookie, although he is probably tasked with a little bit harder role than KJ was.

I was hoping Fantilli could be a 1b/2C his first full year but that was probably too high of an expectation.

 

[CBJx614]

Almost 1/4 of the way through the season and he’s looked good for 19.

On pace to finish just shy of Kent Johnson’s scoring as a rookie, although he is probably tasked with a little bit harder role than KJ was.

I was hoping Fantilli could be a 1b/2C his first full year but that was probably too high of an expectation.

It wouldn't be unrealistic if the vets around him were scoring. Hell if that PP is at least pressure average he's at least got a few more points.

 

[NHLRookieWatch]

Hi, I made a compilation of Fantilli's points in his first 20 games in the NHL.

 

[BB88]

Almost 1/4 of the way through the season and he’s looked good for 19.

On pace to finish just shy of Kent Johnson’s scoring as a rookie, although he is probably tasked with a little bit harder role than KJ was.

I was hoping Fantilli could be a 1b/2C his first full year but that was probably too high of an expectation.

I’d say he’s looked great for a +1 player.

Probably the biggest offensive threat they’ve had this year, creates lot of scoring chances and has been able so showcase his speed in moments.

How many forwards post Matthews/Laine draft have looked better in their +1 season?