Three teams could steal Adam Fantilli from Columbus with a massive offer sheet
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Columbus is stuck in a stalemate with star center Adam Fantilli, and three teams reportedly have the cap room and motivation to swoop in with an offer sheet.
The Leo Carlsson saga from earlier this summer changed everything about how these negotiations get handled.
When the Flyers handed Carlsson an eye popping $18 million AAV over five years and the Ducks matched it, every team with a young, talented center on an expiring deal suddenly looked at their books differently.
Now Adam Fantilli, the guy picked one spot after Carlsson back in 2023, finds himself in almost the exact same situation with the Blue Jackets.
A year ago an eight year deal worth $8 million a season felt like the going rate.
That number is ancient history now.
Reports out of Columbus this month have the ask closer to $12 million, and even that figure isn't sitting well with Fantilli's camp.
That gap is exactly the kind of opening rival teams love to see.
Detroit and Seattle have the money to make it happen
The Red Wings sit on roughly $19.5 million in cap space and still control every one of their first round picks for the next four years, which checks every box for pulling off a Carlsson style offer.
There's a real complication though, since Detroit still hasn't hired a new GM, and nothing of this size gets approved without one.
Seattle has struck out on two big swings already this offseason, missing on Artemi Panarin and getting turned down by Jason Robertson.
Fantilli could be their next target.
Calgary's rebuild makes Fantilli an obvious fit
The Flames need a young number one center to build around, but their $14.8 million in space isn't enough to blow the field away without shedding a contract or two first.
Columbus holds just $12.6 million in space right now, meaning matching any real offer would take some roster shuffling of its own.
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