Adam Fantilli's next contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets reportedly still has a real gap to close.
Elliotte Friedman addressed the situation on NHL Network, and his comments suggest this negotiation is more complicated than a simple number.
"I hadn't heard much except there was a gap," Friedman said.
"I think there was a before Carlsson and an after Carlsson price with Fantilli," he added.
That's a notable way to frame it. Comparable young stars signing extensions elsewhere can reset the entire market overnight for a player like Fantilli.
Friedman didn't stop there. "For what Fantilli is after Carlsson price would be, I don't think Columbus has gotten there yet," he said.
That's about as direct as an insider gets without naming an actual dollar figure. The gap is real, and Columbus hasn't closed it.
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If Adam Fantilli ever became available, several teams would likely show immediate interest, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins.
There is no indication that Columbus is actively shopping him, but a young center with his production and upside would instantly attract attention across the league.
Adam Fantilli contract gap puts pressure on Blue Jackets
Fantilli is still just 21 and coming off a strong season that makes this pricing conversation make total sense.
He posted 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points across all 82 games last season, played through everything at a young age.
He's still on his entry-level deal at a cap hit of just $950,000, a number about to become wildly outdated once his next contract kicks in.
Is Columbus dragging its feet, or is this just what happens when the market shifts mid-negotiation on a player this good?
Columbus finished last season 40-30-12, good for 18th overall, closing the year on a two-game skid.
A team in that middle tier needs its young core locked up and producing, not negotiating through an awkward pricing gap all fall.
It's the hockey equivalent of house hunting right as the market suddenly jumps. The number that made sense last month doesn't work anymore.
My take: letting these gaps linger rarely ends well. The longer Columbus waits, the more that price keeps climbing in Fantilli's favor.
Nothing here suggests a deal is imminent. But when an insider frames it as a before-and-after pricing problem, that's a real number still standing between both sides.
Should the Blue Jackets meet Adam Fantilli's asking price right now?
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