F Adam Fantilli - Univ. of Michigan, NCAA (2023 Draft)

[bsu]

Eichel was a better prospect than Fantilli IMO.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Eichel was a better prospect than Fantilli IMO.

I feel like AINEC is appropriate in this situation.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't understand why Fantilli has such a better reputation than Stramel. They are pretty much the same player with only some minor differences. Fantilli is more of a playmaker and Stramel is bigger and more physical. Yet Fantilli is some consensus #3 that could challenge for top 2 and there are people who act like Stramel isn't even top 10. I don't understand it.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I don't understand why Fantilli has such a better reputation than Stramel. They are pretty much the same player with only some minor differences. Fantilli is more of a playmaker and Stramel is bigger and more physical. Yet Fantilli is some consensus #3 that could challenge for top 2 and there are people who act like Stramel isn't even top 10. I don't understand it.

It will even out as we progress to next year's draft. I actually see Fantilli as a bit of a dropper.

 

[Half Clapper]

I don't understand why Fantilli has such a better reputation than Stramel. They are pretty much the same player with only some minor differences. Fantilli is more of a playmaker and Stramel is bigger and more physical. Yet Fantilli is some consensus #3 that could challenge for top 2 and there are people who act like Stramel isn't even top 10. I don't understand it.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I don't understand why Fantilli has such a better reputation than Stramel. They are pretty much the same player with only some minor differences. Fantilli is more of a playmaker and Stramel is bigger and more physical. Yet Fantilli is some consensus #3 that could challenge for top 2 and there are people who act like Stramel isn't even top 10. I don't understand it.

Probably because Stramel has rocks for brains, less talent and didn't produce nearly as much as Fantilli.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Probably because Stramel has rocks for brains, less talent and didn't produce nearly as much as Fantilli.

Fantilli doesn't have the best hockey sense either, and you completely exaggerated Stramel's hockey sense. Stramel doesn't have rocks for brains.

He didn't have the opportunity to produce as much. He produced pretty well for third line and PP2. Fantilli had a lot better situations, so he produced more.

If you compare the talent, which you seemingly didn't actually do, it's close. I don't have a problem if someone prefers Fantilli, but it seems like Fantilli's name recognition from 3-4 years ago gets him a lot of runway, and if you compare these two similar players, it's pretty close. Could even be an advantage for Stramel, depending on what exactly you prefer.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Fantilli doesn't have the best hockey sense either, and you completely exaggerated Stramel's hockey sense. Stramel doesn't have rocks for brains.

He didn't have the opportunity to produce as much. He produced pretty well for third line and PP2. Fantilli had a lot better situations, so he produced more.

If you compare the talent, which you seemingly didn't actually do, it's close. I don't have a problem if someone prefers Fantilli, but it seems like Fantilli's name recognition from 3-4 years ago gets him a lot of runway, and if you compare these two similar players, it's pretty close. Could even be an advantage for Stramel, depending on what exactly you prefer.

It amazed me how bad Stramel's decision making was when I watched the U18 team, and I watched almost every game of theirs in 2021/22.

He's like a poor mans Alex Tuch. He'll be able to some offense himself with his fantastic tools, but he looks out of place playing beside high skill high IQ linemates because he can't think at their level.

There's a reason he played on their 3rd line and it's not because he's a slightly younger '04 born compared to most of the USNTDP. Dude just doesn't make his linemates better and kills too many plays by forcing them or failing to identify the right play.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It amazed me how bad Stramel's decision making was when I watched the U18 team, and I watched almost every game of theirs in 2021/22.

He's like a poor mans Alex Tuch. He'll be able to some offense himself with his fantastic tools, but he looks out of place playing beside high skill high IQ linemates because he can't think at their level.

There's a reason he played on their 3rd line and it's not because he's a slightly younger '04 born compared to most of the USNTDP. Dude just doesn't make his linemates better and kills too many plays by forcing them or failing to identify the right play.

I think this take is extremely inaccurate and will age poorly. Let's revisit it at this time next year.

 

[ClayAikenFan77]

It amazed me how bad Stramel's decision making was when I watched the U18 team, and I watched almost every game of theirs in 2021/22.

He's like a poor mans Alex Tuch. He'll be able to some offense himself with his fantastic tools, but he looks out of place playing beside high skill high IQ linemates because he can't think at their level.

There's a reason he played on their 3rd line and it's not because he's a slightly younger '04 born compared to most of the USNTDP. Dude just doesn't make his linemates better and kills too many plays by forcing them or failing to identify the right play.

I watched Stramel play a lot when he played youth/high school hockey in MN and absolutely couldn't believe he got picked for the USNTDP over other Minnesotan forwards. His decision making with and without the puck was awful and he clearly benefited from playing on good teams in MN. However, his father passed away in the spring of 2021 and from what I hear that understandably has had a very big impact on him.

Watched a lot of USHL this year and Fantilli is leaps better IMO.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I don't understand why Fantilli has such a better reputation than Stramel. They are pretty much the same player with only some minor differences. Fantilli is more of a playmaker and Stramel is bigger and more physical. Yet Fantilli is some consensus #3 that could challenge for top 2 and there are people who act like Stramel isn't even top 10. I don't understand it.

Stramel is not that good, that's why. If he was born a few weeks earlier he'd probably be a mid 1st in 2022. Fantilli probably goes top 3-5.

It will even out as we progress to next year's draft. I actually see Fantilli as a bit of a dropper.

Fantilli does strike as a bit of an early bloomer in terms of physical development. But so does Stramel.

 

[NotProkofievian]

It will be very interesting to follow Fantilli in the NCAA next year. He has impressive tools and output, but some things looked a bit suspicious to me in the USHL and U18s this year. Luckily we get to see how he adapts to a big step up in competition.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It will be very interesting to follow Fantilli in the NCAA next year. He has impressive tools and output, but some things looked a bit suspicious to me in the USHL and U18s this year. Luckily we get to see how he adapts to a big step up in competition.

Honestly I thought he looked pretty good until that drop pass in OT....

 

[NotProkofievian]

Honestly I thought he looked pretty good until that drop pass in OT....

I agree, he looked very good overall. I just question his scoring game: is it all just volume, or is there some higher level finishing ability?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I agree, he looked very good overall. I just question his scoring game: is it all just volume, or is there some higher level finishing ability?

He definitely has higher level finishing ability. He was just hella snakebit in the U18s.

 

[NotProkofievian]

He definitely has higher level finishing ability. He was just hella snakebit in the U18s.

We'll see. I remain a little unconvinced.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

We'll see. I remain a little unconvinced.

I mean he just dropped 37 goals in 54 games in the USHL... He's definitely not afraid to shoot the puck - he'll shoot from anywhere. But he still shot at 13% this year, which is pretty good. His shot is heavy and accurate, and he also has great hands in tight.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I mean he just dropped 37 goals in 54 games in the USHL... He's definitely not afraid to shoot the puck - he'll shoot from anywhere. But he still shot at 13% this year, which is pretty good. His shot is heavy and accurate, and he also has great hands in tight.

Yeah, this is kind of the thing I'm not sure about. On one hand, getting just shy of 300 shots on net is great, you should do that. But what I want to see is something more than playing the volume game. One thing that will happen at the NCAA is that he won't be able to average over 5 shots per game. So how will he adapt? That's what I'm interested in.

 

[Jukurit]

How did Fantilli play in U16 Youth Olympics back in 2020? Just stat watching, but 2 goals, 3 points in 4 games is OK, but not that impressive. For comparison, Michkov put up absolutely bananas 9 goals and 14 points in 4 games.

 

[canuck2010]

How did Fantilli play in U16 Youth Olympics back in 2020? Just stat watching, but 2 goals, 3 points in 4 games is OK, but not that impressive. For comparison, Michkov put up absolutely bananas 9 goals and 14 points in 4 games.

I understand your point but it isn't always about goals and assists. Canada only sends a team to represent the country, it isn't the best team it can put out there. Pretty sure that a good coach would want to structure the team and play a sound team game.

 

[Jukurit]

I understand your point but it isn't always about goals and assists. Canada only sends a team to represent the country, it isn't the best team it can put out there. Pretty sure that a good coach would want to structure the team and play a sound team game.

I think usually elite prospects put up big points in these international tournaments. That's what Bedard and Michkov have been doing. But not Fantilli. To me, that raises the question of how "elite" he is. Of course, not a really big sample size. He is still a good prospect obviously.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I’ll make a bold prediction and say that Fantilli will be in the 7th-10th range by the end of the year rather than 3rd.

 

[RedHawkDown]

I’ll make a bold prediction and say that Fantilli will be in the 7th-10th range by the end of the year rather than 3rd.

I don’t think this is that bold. There are lots of other potentially elite level talents in Carlsson, Yager, Sale, Dvorsky, Ritchie, etc that could easily bump him down

 

[belair]

I’ll make a bold prediction and say that Fantilli will be in the 7th-10th range by the end of the year rather than 3rd.

I'll add to that a hot take. He'd improve his draft stock if he decided to play in North Bay next year. They're a team poised to push for a championship.

 

[PostBradMalone]

I’ll make a bold prediction and say that Fantilli will be in the 7th-10th range by the end of the year rather than 3rd.

Never say never (see: Wright, Shane) but I don't think 7 teams will be able to help themselves unless Fantilli has a Wright-like season. He may not be worth a selection that high, but if he puts up even an average freshman year stats-wise, there's going to be a lot of "seen him good" types clamoring for him Top 5.