Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Receive Good News as Fantilli Talks Ongoing, But One Issue Remains

Talks are ongoing when it comes to Adam Fantilli and the Blue Jackets, both who would like to get an extension done before the season starts.

by
NHL Trade Talk
September 24, 2026

Negotiations between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Adam Fantilli‘s camp continued Thursday. There’s a sense of progress, but nothing is finished.

The money may no longer be the main obstacle. Darren Dreger reported the sides are close on the average annual value, which he expects to land north of $13 million. Chris Johnston added that Columbus has already put an offer above $13 million on the table. Pierre LeBrun said the club would prefer to land nearer $12 million but could stretch to $13.5 million if it gets more term in return.

LeBrun, speaking on TSN 690, floated four or five years as the range under discussion and described the talks as baby steps, with both sides inching forward. He said, “The Blue Jackets might do $13.5M, I think they rather $12M, but I think they be buying into $13.5M if they can get the term, a little more term on it. And I think that from the player side maybe 4 years, maybe 5 years, so that’s where I think the impasse resides at least as of last night; I haven’t checked on it today.”

He also suggested the Cutter Gauthier contract shifted the landscape and may have been the bigger holdup than the dollars themselves.

Who Breaks First? Fantilli or the Blue Jackets?

While LeBrun reports that neither side is happy that Fantilli is missing camp, they are working together. The Blue Jackets are sending video to their player so he can be ready when he ultimately returns. This doesn’t feel like a situation where things are becoming hostile.

Still, not everyone is sympathetic to Columbus. TSN’s Frank Corrado asked the organization bluntly, “Who do you think you are?” He argued the club is in no position to play hardball with its franchise No. 1 center, pointing to other distractions surrounding Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko.

Still, the mood is trending in the right direction. Johnston said Fantilli is getting closer to boarding a flight to Columbus and rejoining his teammates within a day or two. LeBrun expects him to sign before the regular season begins.

For now, the question is whether the two sides can close the gap on term, and how quickly.

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