NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Adam Fantilli spoke to the media for the first time since the Blue Jackets selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the NHL Draft.
Here's what he said:
How exciting was the drama that led to you becoming a Blue Jacket?
Fantilli: "I don't know about the drama but I was having a lot of fun up there, and to know there's a lot of Michigan guys where I'm headed, it's gonna be really cool. I'm over the moon. Having familiar faces is always helpful with transition and being able to meet those guys before and getting to know them a little bit better is it's gonna be really helpful."
A couple of months ago you said that Columbus was your preferred destination. Why is that?
Fantilli: "It's close to home. I think it'd be a great fit. But like I said a lot of the Michigan guys it just felt like the right choice. Well, not the right choice but it just felt like it would be the right spot."
Did the team that drafted you have any determination on whether you'll go back to school or not?
Fantilli: "I don't know yet. Got to be able to talk to the team and talk to people around me and then we'll see what decision would come out on the other side."
This franchise has been yearning for a No. 1 center. Is it exciting for you that you have the chance to be the first true franchise No. 1 center in Blue Jackets history?
Fantilli: "Obviously, that's exciting and I'm honored to have these types of expectations. So hopefully I'll be able to meet them and I just want to get there and work as hard as I can and compete as hard as I can and hopefully be the best version of myself I can be."
Tell us about your suit.
Fantilli: "It was kind of both my parents' idea to get the list of names [on his vest]. And then a lot of the suit people were telling me I couldn't get it on the liner so I figured it'd be better if I put it on the back of the three-piece and then put pictures on the inside of the suit. So it turned out exactly how I wanted to I was so so excited and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out."
What players on the team are you looking forward to playing with and learning from?
Fantilli: "Obviously, you've got amazing guys like Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, and you've got Zach Werenski and all types of guys that have been around the league and that are just starting out. So it's gonna be so special. And it's going to mean a lot to me to be able to get into that locker room and meet those guys and learn from them as much as possible."
Fantilli is excited to be a Jacket and Jackets fans should be excited about that.
