The Blue Jackets and Fantilli have been $2-3 million apart this week
TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets and Adam Fantilli weren’t looking at eight-year deals, so the Tuesday deadline didn’t really apply to them, according to Pierre LeBrun. The Blue Jackets don’t want Fantilli to miss training camp, but they want the contract to fit, but they haven’t been close.
“There have been offers and counteroffers throughout the summer, but the reality is that they are $2-3 million apart on average annual value.”
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What is Adam Fantilli going to get on his next deal?
Kyle Morton of Daily Faceoff: Adam Fantilli is coming off a 59-point season, and is looking to take advantage of the rising salaries. He’s not at training camp as the sides continue to negotiate. What is he worth?
Tyler Yaremchuk: “The point being, he’s proven over the last couple of years that he, at age 21… He’s proven he’s a top-of-the-lineup centerman. The Capitals are paying Ryan Leonard $10.5 million, and they aren’t even 100% sure if he can be that. Connor Bedard, who is a step up on a guy like Fantilli, obviously, he got himself $15 million. Cutter Gauthier had one good rookie year and got himself $13.
And here we have a guy in Fantilli… you can argue if he has a ceiling of a Gauthier or whoever. You can argue if he’s a true franchise, No. 1 centerman, I get that, but he’s the guy Columbus has, and that’s a really important wrinkle in this negotiation, Hutts.”
Carter Hutton: “If you are to go to this number with Fantilli and bridge him, and you’re not giving him that deal. Obviously, the eight years is off the table now. The factor is: what is he going to be worth after another year as these markets keep growing, as players keep making more money?
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I think that’s the risk that you run of giving the bridge deal, because on the other side of it… a young guy who’s unproven getting an eight-year deal, you can’t hold it against them, but the factor is if you give him a bridge deal and he throws in a 100-point season in that deal. Next thing you know, now he’s a $16, $17, $18 million player.”
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