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Adam Fantilli looks ready to take another meaningful step for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and my 2026-27 fantasy hockey projection is 30 goals, 42 assists and 72 points.
That would represent a 13-point jump from the 59 points Fantilli produced last season, but this is not simply a projection based on hoping a talented young player suddenly explodes. There are legitimate reasons to believe Fantilli’s fantasy ceiling is moving higher.
The biggest one is opportunity.
Fantilli is positioned to remain one of the offensive engines of the Columbus Blue Jackets, with NHL.com currently projecting a top line featuring Valeri Nichushkin, Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko. Add meaningful first-unit power-play opportunities alongside some combination of Marchenko, Zach Werenski and Columbus’ other skilled forwards, and Fantilli has the deployment needed to move beyond the 60-point range.
There is also an extra wrinkle this season: NHL teams will play 84 regular-season games for the first time in 2026-27, giving healthy players two additional opportunities to produce.
For fantasy managers searching for a young center capable of outperforming his draft position, Fantilli is one of the Columbus Blue Jackets players I would be targeting.
Adam Fantilli — 2026-27
Why Adam Fantilli Can Reach 70+ Points for the Columbus Blue Jackets
Fantilli finished last season with 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points in 82 games, already establishing a new career high in scoring.
But the underlying fantasy profile is even more interesting.
NHL.com notes that Fantilli also established career highs with 13 power-play points, 214 shots on goal, 139 hits and 18:54 of average ice time. That combination matters because it gives Fantilli fantasy value beyond simple goals and assists. He can help managers in shots and hits while still providing significant offensive upside.
His progression has also been steady rather than random.
Fantilli scored 27 points during his shortened rookie season, jumped to 54 points in 2024-25 and then improved to 59 last season. He now enters 2026-27 at an age where another offensive jump would hardly be surprising.
My projection of 72 points is more bullish than NHL.com’s current 68-point projection, but not dramatically so.
The difference comes down to where I believe Fantilli still has room to grow.
He does not need a massive increase in five-on-five efficiency to reach 70 points. If his power-play production moves from 13 points into the 17-to-20 range and his top line develops chemistry early, the math starts working quickly.
Adam Fantilli: NHL Scoring Progression
Adam Fantilli’s Power-Play Role Could Decide His Fantasy Ceiling
The Columbus Blue Jackets power play may ultimately determine whether Fantilli finishes closer to 65 points or pushes toward 75.
Fantilli averaged 2:28 of power-play ice time per game last season, according to PuckPedia.
That is already meaningful usage, but Columbus has enough offensive talent to create a more dangerous first unit in 2026-27.
Kirill Marchenko is coming off 23 power-play points, while Zach Werenski remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive defensemen. NHL.com also believes offseason addition Valeri Nichushkin could see power-play time alongside Fantilli and Marchenko.
That combination interests me from a fantasy perspective.
Marchenko provides the shot. Werenski can control possession from the point. Nichushkin creates traffic and puck-recovery opportunities around the net. Fantilli has the speed and skill to attack seams while also getting into scoring areas himself.
If Columbus’ power play improves, Fantilli could be one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Why I Am Projecting 30 Goals for Adam Fantilli
Fantilli’s goal total actually fell from 31 in 2024-25 to 24 last season, but I would not read that as a negative trend.
His shot volume remained strong.
NHL EDGE data showed Fantilli ranked in the 94th percentile among forwards in midrange goals and midrange shots, while he also finished in the 87th percentile in high-danger shots on goal. His skating metrics were similarly impressive, including a 23.39 mph maximum speed.
Those are encouraging indicators for a player who is still developing.
Thirty goals does not require Fantilli to become an elite NHL finisher overnight. It simply requires a modest shooting-percentage rebound combined with strong shot volume and continued first-line usage.
My projection:
84 GP | 30 G | 42 A | 72 P
I would also expect somewhere around 17-19 power-play points, more than 220 shots and another healthy contribution in hits.
That makes Fantilli especially appealing in multi-category fantasy formats.
The One Fantasy Risk: Adam Fantilli’s Contract
Fantilli Contract: Columbus Cap Scenarios
There is one issue fantasy managers need to monitor closely.
As of September 12, Fantilli remains a restricted free agent without a contract for the 2026-27 season. PuckPedia lists his previous cap hit at $950,000 and Columbus with roughly $12.65 million in projected cap space before a new Fantilli contract is added.
I do not view the contract situation as a reason to avoid Fantilli in fantasy drafts yet, but it does introduce uncertainty if negotiations stretch deeper into September.
Missing a large portion of training camp would matter more to me than the contract itself because Fantilli may be breaking in a new top-line combination with Nichushkin and Marchenko.
The sooner a deal is completed, the more comfortable I become with the 72-point projection.
Fantilli has previously spoken positively about Rick Bowness, saying of the Blue Jackets coach, “He’s done a lot for me, and I appreciate it.”
That relationship, combined with Bowness’ emphasis on demanding more from Columbus’ young core, gives me additional confidence Fantilli will receive every opportunity to become the team’s legitimate No. 1 center.
Adam Fantilli Fantasy Hockey Outlook for 2026-27
My final Adam Fantilli fantasy hockey projection is:
30 goals
42 assists
72 points
17-19 power-play points
220+ shots on goal
There is a legitimate ceiling beyond that.
If Fantilli gets close to 20 power-play points and the Nichushkin-Fantilli-Marchenko combination clicks immediately, a season in the 75-point range would not shock me.
NHL.com’s 68-point estimate is a reasonable conservative baseline. My view is that Fantilli has enough additional shot volume, skating ability, category coverage and role growth to outperform it.
For fantasy managers, this is exactly the type of player I like targeting before the rest of the market fully prices in the breakout.
Fantilli is no longer merely a promising prospect.
He is becoming one of the most important offensive players on the Columbus Blue Jackets — and 2026-27 could be the season his fantasy production finally reflects that status.
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