Bedard was always going to be the story of the night, but he was not the only story. And he won’t be the only story from this draft in the decade (or two) to come. A long way from it. And while there’s no guarantee that Fantilli will be the selection at No. 2 for the Ducks, who won the second draw (won, not lost, in case Ducks fans need that reminder!), he’d be my pick, I think he’ll be the pick, and today is a big, big day for that franchise. (There are, it must be said, scouts who’d stump for Russian winger Matvei Michkov, Swedish forward Leo Carlsson, and American centre Will Smith at No. 2, but Fantilli is still the consensus favorite and I expect that’ll hold through the men’s world championships and into draft day when push comes to shove.)
Though Fantilli hasn’t publicly stated whether he’s going to turn pro or return to college next year, and won’t until he sits down with the club that drafts him, the staff at Michigan are expecting him to leave and play in the NHL next year, that’s the sense I’ve gotten from those around him as well, and this men’s worlds with Canada should be a nice trial run for him to prove to himself, if nothing else, that he’s ready for the jump. I fully expect that he’ll pass the test and have an immediate impact in the NHL in the fall. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he and Bedard are two-thirds of the Calder Trophy nominees this time next year, either, though I think there are small-to-medium odds Fantilli, even if he’s in the NHL, could miss some time by going to play for Canada as their 1C at the 2024 world juniors in Sweden.
theathletic.com
