1 overall pick in 2021.įantilli has been able to talk to those players and get what he called “great advice” from them. Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers became the first Michigan player to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year Monday night, edging out former Wolverines teammate Owen Power, now with Buffalo and the No. The Wolverines had 13 NHL draft picks on the 2021-22 roster. He also has to manage the expectations that come from playing at Michigan, a program that is a NHL draft pick factory with four of the first five selections in 2021 alone. The experience of playing college hockey also means that Fantilli has experience playing against players as old as 23 while also living on his own, even if it was in a dormitory.įantilli also met people from all over the world he feels has helped him mature both as a person and a player. You’re not going to go wrong with both.”įantilli turns 20 in October, while Bedard won’t be 18 until July 17. “We’re in a situation here you have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl,” Marr said, referring to Edmonton’s star duo. Director Dan Marr noted Bedard has had scouts and coaches watching him the past three years as a potentially “generational-type player.” Marr also believes Fantilli will help define a franchise. His production is why NHL Central Scouting ranked Fantilli as the No. He helped the Wolverines reach the NCAA Frozen Four, where they lost to Quinnipiac in a semifinal. He also tied for the lead with 30 goals in 36 games, capping his season in rare territory by taking home the Hobey Baker award.
He made quite the impression as a freshman. He helped the Steel win the USHL Clark Cup as a rookie, and Fantilli was named the playoff MVP after he scored eight goals with nine points in eight games.įantilli was expected to move to the OHL before a visit to Michigan’s campus led him to change paths. The native of Nobleton, Ontario, first went to the USHL and played with the Chicago Steel in 2021. So I just want to sit back and enjoy it as much as I can.” So obviously Connor’s season was phenomenal, and everything he’s done up until that point has been great. “You can’t really play another game now,“ Fantilli said Tuesday. 3 instead of Chicago with the first selection Wednesday night, the center insists he has no regrets about what might have been. Whatever twists of fate might have Fantilli headed to Anaheim with the No.
The pandemic led the Canadian to the U.S., where he became only the third freshman to win college hockey’s Hobey Baker player of the year award joining Jack Eichel (2015) and Hall of Famer Paul Kariya (1993).
(AP) - In a different year, this NHL draft might have been considered the chase for Adam Fantilli as the top pick rather than the Connor Bedard sweepstakes.įantilli’s got the size at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, and a proven ability to put the puck in the net.
0 kommentar(er)
