Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli expected to miss eight weeks due to calf laceration

He suffered the injury in the second period of the Blue Jackets’ game against the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 28 after finishing a check on Kraken forward Jared McCann. Fantilli had to hop on one skate off the ice and to the locker room.

Fantilli, 19, has had a strong rookie campaign, tied for third in goals among first-year players with 12 goals and fourth in points with 27 in 49 games. He also ranks second among rookies with 115 shots.

Fantilli is currently in the first year of his three-year, entry-level contract, which has a $950,000 cap hit with the potential for an additional $3.2 million in performance bonuses each season.

Drafted No. 3 overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, he became the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in the NCAA, scoring 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 35 games at the University of Michigan.

The Blue Jackets are 16-24-10 with 42 points in 50 games, eighth in the Metropolitan Division and near the basement of the league standings. They currently have a pause in the schedule with the All-Star break and won’t play again until Saturday, Feb. 10 when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Forward Johnny Gaudreau leads the team in scoring with 32 points (seven goals and 25 assists), followed by defenseman Zach Werenski with 28 points (one goal and 27 assists).