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

[bishop12]

Eichel was arguably a better prospect than Bedard. At best, Bedard is equal to Eichel at the same age.

Eichel put up better numbers in hockey east than Bedard has in the WHL lol...

Nah...

Bedard has been known since he's been 12. Eichel was never like that. Bedard is at McDavid, Sid, Ovy's level of hype.

Eichel is a talented, but a dumb player

 

[wetcoast]

The 9 month discrepancy means little considering Eichel was playing much older, mature, and, frankly, better competition than what Bedard is currently facing.

For this reason it also makes Fantilli’s current production much more impressive than Bedard’s. But we’ll see if Fantilli can keep it up.

I think the reason why the age difference comes up is that their is a personal belief that Bedard will become the better player (Eichel) and some (myself right now anyways) are looking for a plausible reason when it might be a stretch?

 

[Hanji]

Draft year means a lot less than birth year. Especially in this case where Bedard is a summer birthday vs McDavid who is 2 weeks removed from being a ‘96

You’d have a point if these guys played solely within their own birth years. That could limit exposure, development, etc.

But elite guys play against older competition their entire young lives.
9 months isn't that big of a deal.

For example (i read in another forum) despite being several months younger than Michkov, Bedard has been playing against older competition for much longer than Michkov has.
Does that not make Bedard more developed?

 

[bishop12]

Bedard is not on McDavuds level. It’s not even about points. McDavids combination of puckhandling at elite speed and IQ has never been seen in the NHL, ever. That’s what made him such an elite prospect. Not the points.

Bedard is def at McDavid's level. He might not reach it...but his shot, his IQ, skating etc. You're downplaying him.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Bedard is def at McDavid's level. He might not reach it...but his shot, his IQ, skating etc. You're downplaying him.

Hold your horses here now. If ive been called for my hot takes... this is a big one.
Bedard is not even close at McDavid's level, lets be real here for a second.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hold your horses here now. If ive been called for my hot takes... this is a big one.
Bedard is not even close at McDavid's level, lets be real here for a second.

Agree. Not sure how anyone can state their skating is remotely close. Bedard is a good skater. McDavid is possibly the best skater ever.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Bedard is def at McDavid's level. He might not reach it...but his shot, his IQ, skating etc. You're downplaying him.

No he isn't. Bedard will be a star in the league but I don't see him reaching Crosby status.

Matter of fact I believe the generational one might be Michkov. He's got that special talent that you can't teach

 

[JackSlater]

Bedard is more accomplished than Matthews or Eichel was at this age, but it remains to be seen whether he can be as good given that he lacks some physical positives they had, plus they had tremendous seasons as 18 year olds before the draft. McDavid is a different level that Bedard is very unlikely to reach.

I've seen a little bit of Fantilli now and he seems to pick up a point or two every time I see him but he never looks dominant. If Eichel and Matthews are the comparables then I'd say that he's lacking for the time being. Can still become a great player though.

 

[Hanji]

No he isn't. Bedard will be a star in the league but I don't see him reaching Crosby status.

Matter of fact I believe the generational one might be Michkov. He's got that special talent that you can't teach

Yea, Michkov seems to rely on brain over brawn more than Bedard. That could be the difference maker at the next level between 2 somewhat undersized players with good but not outstanding speed. But who knows.

But Fantilli just might have the highest floor of the 3.
He really doesn't have any weaknesses that could hold him back at the next level.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Draft year means a lot less than birth year. Especially in this case where Bedard is a summer birthday vs McDavid who is 2 weeks removed from being a ‘96

A 9 month difference is trivial compared to the fact that he's out producing Bedard in the NCAA, which is a significantly harder league to produce in.

Nah...

Bedard has been known since he's been 12. Eichel was never like that. Bedard is at McDavid, Sid, Ovy's level of hype.

Eichel is a talented, but a dumb player

Yes, because knowing about a player when he's 12 is a factor. Just ask Steven Anthony.

You really just have no idea lol.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Bedard is def at McDavid's level. He might not reach it...but his shot, his IQ, skating etc. You're downplaying him.

Again this just tells me you never actually saw McDavid as a prospect. Even in Erie he was already showing that he had a skillset that had never been seen in hockey before. McDavid is likely the most purely skilled player of all time with his physical tools (skating and stick handling combo). Bedard isn’t close and nobody else is either.

 

[Corso]

Managed to watch Fantilli's last two games. He is a player, make no mistake about that. He doesn't have the dynamic skill of an Eichel but seems to have better on ice awareness. He is always where he should be,whether on the PP, PK or 5x5, his anticipation is uncanny. His start so far suggests that he may be the best true freshman to play in a long time but time will tell. I don't expect a big drop off in production given his outstanding hockey sense.

Similar in comparison to Eichel,he doesn't possess the dynamic skillset of Bedard but if he keeps his current production and at 6'2 with a NHL ready frame and a very responsible game, it will really make teams question passing him over.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Fantilli-

I think Eichel is a natural spot to start the conversation given the production, but I think when you watch closely you realize it they’re on different levels. I remember watching Eichel and he was just so dominant. In College hockey and at the WJC, he was just so visibly taking over games. I don’t see that from Fantilli. Bedard has done this type of thing at various levels, but when you look at the toolkit I think you realize he’s not on Eichel’s level either, and that’s not a slight to him.

 

[Breakers]

Fantilli-

I think Eichel is a natural spot to start the conversation given the production, but I think when you watch closely you realize it they’re on different levels. I remember watching Eichel and he was just so dominant. In College hockey and at the WJC, he was just so visibly taking over games. I don’t see that from Fantilli. Bedard has done this type of thing at various levels, but when you look at the toolkit I think you realize he’s not on Eichel’s level either, and that’s not a slight to him.

World juniors????? Umm no
He wasnt that good during that world juniors
That was larkin

 

[Corso]

World juniors????? Umm no
He wasnt that good during that world juniors
That was larkin

Correct, he wasn't as dominant as he was in the NCAA that year. Eichel and Fantilli are different type of players. Eichel is more skilled but I would argue that Fantilli has looked like a more complete player thus far as compared to Eichel during his freshman season. I really don't believe that Fantilli will end up leading the NCAA in scoring as Eichel did but he should finish with 50+ points if Michigan goes deep enough and establish himself as one of the best college players as a true freshman

 

[bishop12]

Again this just tells me you never actually saw McDavid as a prospect. Even in Erie he was already showing that he had a skillset that had never been seen in hockey before. McDavid is likely the most purely skilled player of all time with his physical tools (skating and stick handling combo). Bedard isn’t close and nobody else is either.

I haven't watched? lol I got 20n years on you.
McD is a new breed, agreed, doesn't make Bedard any less of a prospect.

Again this just tells me you never actually saw McDavid as a prospect. Even in Erie he was already showing that he had a skillset that had never been seen in hockey before. McDavid is likely the most purely skilled player of all time with his physical tools (skating and stick handling combo). Bedard isn’t close and nobody else is either.

Sid's skill set has been seen on others before (ie forsberg) and he was evey bit the prospect McDavid was.

A 9 month difference is trivial compared to the fact that he's out producing Bedard in the NCAA, which is a significantly harder league to produce in.

Yes, because knowing about a player when he's 12 is a factor. Just ask Steven Anthony.

You really just have no idea lol.

Actually I do.

Eichel was a freak, but he's a dumb player....it shows at the NHL level. That's why is meh.

 

[bishop12]

Hold your horses here now. If ive been called for my hot takes... this is a big one.
Bedard is not even close at McDavid's level, lets be real here for a second.

As a prospect? Def. He might not reach it...but Bedard is inthe same bucket as Sid, Ovy, McD for that level of prospect. That doesn't mean he'll deliverer

Agree. Not sure how anyone can state their skating is remotely close. Bedard is a good skater. McDavid is possibly the best skater ever.

So by that standard McD was a better propect than Sid? Nope.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

As a prospect? Def. He might not reach it...but Bedard is inthe same bucket as Sid, Ovy, McD for that level of prospect. That doesn't mean he'll deliverer


So by that standard McD was a better propect than Sid? Nope.

You got George to say “Hold your horses”.

That’s honestly impressive.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Actually I do.

Eichel was a freak, but he's a dumb player....it shows at the NHL level. That's why is meh.

Yeah so meh. Paced for 43 goals 94 points as a 23 year old center the season before his injury.

 

[Boner Champ]

Came here for some Fantilli updates. I hate to be the backseat mod, but this thread is well-hijacked, no?

Anyway, on Fantilli he's probably the 3rd/4th best prospect this year and the 3rd/4th best prospect since 2018. Hell of a consolation if you lost the lotto.

 

[Breakers]

This is a better weekend series to judge his play

BU is soft as sh)t
Northern Michigan is playing the top line so physical
Probably been 5 or 6 scrums so far and 2 or 3 today, but they are drawing penalties

Fantilli just scored at the end of the PP finding a soft spot on a Hughes rush
I like how he has responded to this scrappy weekend series against an NCHC opponent.
——-
Scored on another Powerplay. He sure does find quite areas

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[HabzSauce]

100%.

I’m not seeing a generational talent with any of the 2023 draftees.
A Matthews-level player is a more likely scenario for one of Bedard, Fantilli, Michkov, etc; which is still nothing to scoff at.

How soon we forget just how abnormal Eichel’s draft season was and how highly touted Matthews was.

2023 is amazingly deep. But will it produce a McDavid, Ovechkin, Crosby level player? Not seeing it at all.

I think Michkov and Bedard are right in between franchise and generational. So inbetween Matthews/Drai and McDavid.

 

[bishop12]

Yeah so meh. Paced for 43 goals 94 points as a 23 year old center the season before his injury.

"paced for" lol cute

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

"paced for" lol cute

Is it his fault that covid shut down the league?