Connor Bedard and 5 NHL rookies that will be must-see TV

2. Adam Fantilli

The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to bring Adam Fantilli into the NHL.

Everyone thought that Adam Fantilli was going to be the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Everyone knew that Bedard would be the first guy but Fantilli did everything he needed to do to be the guy right behind him.

That included becoming the third player to ever win the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Award as a freshman. He was truly spectacular as a teammate of Luke Hughes at Michigan. Everyone believes that he is going to be a star in the NHL because of all this.

Oddly enough, he did not go as the second overall pick. Everyone thought that the Anaheim Ducks would be getting Fantilli when they landed the second-overall pick. That is not the case.

Anaheim decided not to take Fantilli with the second overall pick. They went in another direction. Fantilli went third to the Columbus Blue Jackets and he is incredibly happy with that. He fell one draft pick position from where he thought but it might end up working out for him in the end.

Hockey fans need to be watching Fantilli this season. With the players that they have around him, he should be able to be very productive (and entertaining) this year. Guys like Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine are going to be fun watching with Fantilli. He will also challenge for the Calder Trophy.