Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 reasons Adam Fantilli moved to left wing
One game into his NHL career, Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli received a new assignment from coach Pascal Vincent.
After impressing in his NHL debut while centering the Jackets’ third line, Fantilli was shifted to left wing and given a promotion to play with Patrik Laine and Alexandre Texier in a top-six role. Based on social media posts, the move has caused consternation among Blue Jackets fans leery of upsetting the third overall pick in this summer’s draft so soon into his career.
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Here are five reasons why it shouldn’t be a concern and could foster Fantilli’s development into an impact forward:
Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli reunites with Patrik Laine
Watching Fantilli line up as Laine’s left wing at practice the day after his NHL debut and 19th birthday was surprising.
Based on his statistics, Fantilli’s first NHL game was impressive as the Jackets' third line center. He logged his first career point with an assist, won 5 of 10 faceoffs and, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets broke even in possession metrics with Fantilli on the ice. Vincent also spoke in glowing terms about Fantilli after the Jackets’ 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Switching him to left wing the next day seemed a little odd, but Fantilli was eager to rejoin Laine's line.
The two became friends when Laine invited Fantilli to stay with him for two weeks before training camp and they started out on the same line in scrimmages. Fantilli centered that group, but Laine shifted to the middle and is now the focus of an experiment to see if he can become a top-six center.
Fantilli is eager to help out.
“We have fun together and we’re pretty good friends,” he said. “I always like messing around with him on the bench and stuff like that. I know we showed a little bit in the preseason ... so hopefully we can transition that (now). I'd agree we’ve looked pretty good together on the ice.”
Columbus Blue Jackets still view Adam Fantilli as an impact center
Moving Fantilli to the wing isn’t Vincent’s way of suggesting that his future isn’t in the middle of a top line. It's about chemistry and two top players helping each other out.
Flanking Laine with Fantilli and Texier puts two wingers with him who have experience as centers, not to mention two left-handed shooters with a right-handed center. Vincent has said his ideal lineup would have 12 centers filling the forward roles, all playing interchangeably.
In his view, players are only left wingers, centers and right wingers on draws and then become flexible after the puck drops. What he sees with Fantilli, Laine and Texier are three centers working together as a top-six unit, all bringing different skills into the mix. Theoretically, that could help all three hone some center skills while helping Laine transition into a pivot.
Adam Fantilli, Patrik Laine can help each other improve
Along that same line of thinking, putting Fantilli with Laine could help both on faceoffs, which is usually the toughest area of development for new NHL centers.
Taking draws on a player’s strong side usually leads to more success with a backhand grip, so playing Fantilli and Laine on the same line is a bit of a cheat code.
“Patty’s a righty, I’m a lefty,” Fantilli said. “That means we’re going to have two strong sides on faceoffs.”
Both can also “cheat” by going a tick early on draws because getting kicked out of a faceoff isn’t as big of a deal with other "centers" on the ice.
Vincent is also looking for chemistry on his lines, putting a playmaker like Texier with a shooter like Laine and net-crasher like Fantilli. They weren’t dominant in a 5-3 victory Saturday over the New York Rangers, but none of the Jackets' lines achieved that standard.
Adam Fantilli gets top six role at left wing for Columbus Blue Jackets
The ‘Laine Project’ leaves no room for Fantilli to play center for one of the Jackets’ top two lines. Laine is centering a top-six unit and captain Boone Jenner, the team’s most successful faceoff winner and best at getting into the slot, anchors the other.
Fantilli wouldn’t get top-six minutes by staying at center of the third line, which is traditionally more of a checking role with lesser ice time. Fantilli has high-end speed, skill and shooting ability the Blue Jackets want in their top six group.
Skating at left wing on Laine's line puts both in the top six and allows each to work on center skills as interchangeable forwards. If it works, it's a win-win. If it doesn’t, Fantilli can go back to a more traditional center role on a different line.
“If Patty’s late getting back into the (defensive) zone, I’ll be able to cover for him,” Fantilli said. “So, I think it will help with just interchanging and being covered in all situations. I think it’ll add depth to our line, and we can be used in more situations.”
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli has experience playing wing
Fantilli played center at Michigan last season and before that with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. He does, however, have recent experience playing a wing position.
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Fantilli played on the wing for Canada at last season's world junior championships and men’s world championship, both winning gold medals. Shifting to the wing with the Blue Jackets lifts Fantilli into a top forward role in the NHL and pairs him with Laine, a potent offensive force.
“I played wing at the world championship and I played wing at world juniors,” Fantilli said. “I’m comfortable at the position.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 reasons Columbus Blue Jackets moved Adam Fantilli to left wing
