The new top talent of the Columbus Blue Jackets sent their regards in a wonderful way.
Columbus unexpectedly got Adam Fantill. PDO
At the beginning of the NHL booking event, a small surprise was immediately seen, when what was considered an almost certain second booking Adam Fantilli sneaked to the third team, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Anaheim Ducks, who booked second, chose the Swedish center Leo Carlsson.
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen announced Fantill’s name on stage. Usually, players tend to send thanks to family members and other support groups in their first interview, but Fantilli, who celebrated the world championship in Tampere in the spring, had come up with another and faster way.
Under his suit jacket, he wore a vest with the names of all those who had helped him written on the back. According to Athletic magazine editor Aaron Portzline, more than 140 names were listed on the back.
And the honors didn’t stop there, because inside the jacket, Fantilli had photos from his junior path towards the bright lights of the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets get an NHL-ready youngster from Toronto-born Fantill. Kekäläinen commented on his team’s website that there are still discussions about continuing in the university league, but he believes that Fantill is already eligible for the world’s number one league.
The number one name at the booking event was, as expected Connor Bedard. There were no Finnish players in the opening round.