COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted eight players in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Columbus drafted Adam Fantilli with the third overall pick Wednesday night, a left-handed center from Canada who played for the University of Michigan.
Fantilli, 18, played 36 games for the Wolverines, scoring 30 goals and registering 35 assists in the 2022-23 season. He earned several Big Ten honors, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023.
Previously, he played two seasons in the United States Hockey League for the Chicago Steel, scoring 55 goals and 55 assists from 2020-2022.
The Nobleton, Ontario native represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championships (1-2-3 in 10 games) and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships (2-3-5 in seven games), helping the country capture gold medals at both tournaments.
The Blue Jackets drafted seven more players on Thursday to conclude the draft:
- Round 2, pick 34: Gavin Brindley, C (University of Michigan/NCAA)
- Round 3, pick 66: William Whitelaw, RW (Youngstown/USHL)
- Round 4, pick 98: Andrew Strathmann, D (Youngstown/USHL)
- Round 4, pick 114: Luca Pinelli, C (Ottawa/OHL)
- Round 5, pick 156: Melvin Strahl, G (MoDo Hockey/J20 Nationell)
- Round 7, pick 194: Oiva Keskinen, C (Tappara/U20 SM-sarja)
Columbus is still searching for their next head coach.
Head coach Brad Larsen was fired after the season was over. Larsen failed to make a playoff appearance during his two years as the club's leader.
The Blue Jackets did not meet expectations last season, finishing with a 25-48-9 record. Columbus lost 102 of 164 games since Larsen succeeded John Tortorella as coach.
Goaltending coach Manny Legace also will not be back after five seasons on the job.