Adam Fantilli remains without a contract extension, but the Oilers don’t look like a realistic landing spot.
Columbus is still working on a deal with the restricted free agent, yet there’s still a gap to bridge on both money and term. A lot of that tension traces back to the fallout from the Leo Carlsson offer sheet saga that rattled the NHL over the summer. With training camps set to open in a week, the pressure is on for the Blue Jackets to get Fantilli signed, because the longer this drags on, the more room there is for a holdout or even an offer sheet from another club.
Edmonton, though, probably won’t be the team that makes that move.
The biggest reason is straightforward: Mike Babcock is now behind the Oilers bench. That alone makes Fantilli’s situation feel complicated in a way that goes beyond the usual contract chatter. Fantilli had only been drafted when Babcock was with Columbus, and while he was at a prospect tournament when Babcock’s misconduct in the Blue Jackets locker room and the ensuing resignation unfolded, he did speak about how quickly camp changed once the team had to replace its coach only a few months after hiring him.
Fantilli wasn’t directly tied to Babcock’s misconduct, but the effect on Columbus still hangs over the conversation. The coach’s departure cut into the Blue Jackets’ development environment and disrupted the team’s late-summer and early-fall work, including those first camp and preseason moments that matter so much for a young player. Fantilli is already producing well three years into his NHL career, but those early chances only come once.
That’s why, three years later, the memory of what happened in Columbus could still make Fantilli hesitant about joining Connor McDavid in Edmonton and chasing a near-immediate shot at the Stanley Cup.
There have already been examples of players and agents, depending on the situation, steering clear of the Oilers or moving on because of Babcock. Even with some renewed optimism around Edmonton’s on-ice outlook and Babcock’s coaching pedigree, his history continues to create resistance. Fantilli’s contract standoff is just the latest reminder of that.
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Oilers Just Made A Move Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On
The Oilers added Alex Formenton on a one-year deal, a move that immediately stood out around the league because of the wingers past and the baggage that comes with it. On a roster that is always judged through the lens of contention, Edmontons front office made a bet that is already sure to stir up strong reactions from fans who follow every layer of the teams decision-making.
Formentons name has lingered in hockey conversations because of his involvement in the 2018 Hockey Canada case involving five players, which makes this signing about more than just depth on paper. Edmonton has left itself open to scrutiny by bringing him in now, and the real question is how much patience supporters will have for the move once the initial surprise gives way to the details. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Spark Immediate Backlash With Controversial Alex Formenton Decision
The Oilers decision to bring in Alex Formenton has already turned into one of the most scrutinized moves of their offseason. Formenton, who had previously been involved in a trial stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada team, said he was grateful for the chance to get back to the NHL, while the signing immediately put Edmonton under a brighter spotlight than most late-summer additions ever draw.
What has only added to the chatter is how little advance notice the league appeared to have before the move became public. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Oilers did not need league approval for the signing and learned about it at the same time everyone else, a detail that only sharpened the sense that Edmonton was willing to move first and sort out the reaction later. [Read more 🡒]
McDavid Just Sent A Clear Message About What Oilers Need Most
Connor McDavids captains skate in Edmonton on Sept. 9 offered an early glimpse of what the Oilers think will matter most when camp ramps up. Speaking with local media, he stressed the need for a fast start to the season and made it clear that the group cant afford to spend weeks searching for its footing again after a summer of reflection and expectation.
McDavid also addressed the practical side of getting there, pointing to the value of a calmer year on the schedule and the chance to carry more rest into the grind ahead. For a team that has spent plenty of time juggling combinations and trying to settle into a rhythm, the message was less about flash than about finding a steady base before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]