ADAM FANTILLI

Center
6’2/187
Left
Univ. of Michigan/NCAA

Adam Fantilli has the potential to be the next great power forward in the league, and he rounds out the three-headed monster at the top of the 2023 draft. With Matvei Michkov being inked to SKA St.Petersburg until 2025, it will open up the door for a player like Adam Fantilli to get drafted with the 2nd overall pick, as you wouldn’t have to wait three years for him to come over. Another thing that gives Fantilli an advantage over Michkov is his size; he is listed at 6’2/187, while Michkov is listed at 5’10/159. Fantilli is the x-factor in this year’s draft because he is equally as dynamic as Bedard and Michkov; he has an element in his game that the other two players will never have; size, grit, and overwhelming physicality at times.

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Size/Strength Excellent
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Excellent
Puckhandling Good
Physical Play Great
Offensive Play Excellent
Defensive Play Great
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent

Strengths

1. A dynamic and explosive goal scorer, with great speed, size and strentgh.
2. Has an unique combination of explosiveness and finesse, overwhelming defenders with strength, speed, and handling skills.
3. Has excellent hockey sense and IQ, and plays a great two-way game.

Areas of Improvement

1. Will need to adjust to playing against stiffer competition than he faced in the USHL.

Scouting Report:

Had Bedard and Michkov not been prospects for this draft, Fantilli would be the clear-cut number 1 pick, he gas that type of potential. Adam Fantilli is one of the most unique prospects in recent draft memory. After an outstanding year in the USHL with the Chicago Steel where he registered 37 goals and 37 assists in 54 games, and will be heading to the University of Michigan for his draft year, where he will be one of the youngest players in college hockey. Fantailli was the USHL’s leading goal-scorer as a draft-minus-one player, with his 1.39 points per game outpacing all but Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, and Jack Eichel for his age group in the past 10 years. The 6’2 centerplays a very well-rounded game, always fighting to get possession of the puck in the defensive zone and using his intelligence to anticipate the play well. He’s a powerful yet quick skater with great edges and four-way mobility. With his elite shot, he’s able to beat goalies from range, but he can also find the tape of his teammates just as well. He’s got exceptional hands as well, being able to handle in-tight and through traffic. Simply put, Fantilli is a dangerous offensive threat with the puck and without it, as he’s able to read the defense and attack areas of weakness. I would compare Adam Fantilli to Eric Lindros; he has the potential to be playdriving powerforward in the same way that Eric Lindros was in his prime. While he may not have the same hype as Lindros and may not be the MVP caliber type player that Lindros was, Fantilli is very similar in playstyle and if he were a 2022 Draft prospect, would have been the number 1 pick. Adam Fantilli rounds out the three headed monsters at the top of the 2023 draft, and could even challenge to be the 2nd pick if he has a great year.