The Columbus Blue Jackets still have one of their biggest offseason questions hanging in the air, and Frank Seravalli thinks the delay on Adam Fantilli is creating more problems than it solves.
On Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Seravalli pointed out that Fantilli remains unsigned even though Columbus has salary cap space, and he said the situation has dragged on far too long for a team that can ill afford unnecessary uncertainty.
“How important is he to their future? Like, I don’t know how much more important you could be other than Zach Werenski and (Kirill) Marchenko. Like, the fact that we’ve gone all summer for a team that, again, is lacking in overall pieces and are willing to enter camp without any real cap crunch at all from getting a deal done.
Like, it does not compute to me that this file has lingered as long as it has. And I think each day that passes and a deal hasn’t been consummated is like unforgivable for the Columbus Blue Jackets moving forward.
So in this summer of turmoil, in this this, lots of question marks about who’s coming, who’s going, what kind of commitment are they going to get from Fantilli or others? Get it done.
And if you have to overpay because you’re in Columbus, like, well, what’s it to you? Like, cap space is use or lose.
So I’m not really understanding it.
And look, I love Rick Bowness, but count me among the people that don’t really understand what’s happening, as he was again critical of players that he believes came in out of shape.”
Seravalli also took aim at the broader picture around the Blue Jackets, especially after head coach Rick Bowness received a one-year extension despite publicly criticizing the team.
“I call them deeply unserious is, is the way that I would phrase their operation. And again, it’s not ageism at all, but bringing back a 71-year-old coach who was incredibly critical of the team at the end of the year, and then signing him to a one-year deal.
What? So we can get to the other end of this season and then do this all over again?
What, like stability, stability, stability? I cannot stress it enough.”
The discussion also touched on Zach Werenski, with concern that Columbus could risk creating more friction by letting Fantilli’s contract situation linger while trying to keep key players committed.
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Blue Jackets Fans Will Remember These No. 12 Names First
Jersey No. 12 has been part of a small but interesting slice of Blue Jackets history, with the article tracing the players who have worn it and what came after their Columbus stops. Some left behind only a short NHL footprint, others picked up points and games along the way before moving into other roles in hockey, and the number has become the kind of detail longtime fans can use to measure how the franchise has changed over time.
Owen Sillinger is the current name tied to that thread, and the profile around him suggests why the number still draws attention in Cleveland as well as Columbus. He has only just begun his NHL rsum, but the scouting view around him points to a player with real offensive tools and a chance to matter in the organization as the roster around him continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]