Rookie of the year candidate feared done for the season

Coming into this season, if you weren't backing Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy, your money was probably on Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli. After Bedard went down due to injury earlier this year, Fantilli became the odds on favourite to win the award. Unfortunately, his bid for the award may have come to an end as well.

Following a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, Columbus Blue Jackets center and rookie Adam Fantilli was seen leaving the arena using crutches and a walking boot. When asked about the way the 19-year-old left the arena, Columbus head coach Pascal Vincent said that Fantilli is "questionable" for their upcoming game against St. Louis.


The injury occurred in the second period when Fantilli went to finish a hit on Seattle's Jared McCann. Fantilli appeared to tweak something and immediately went down the tunnel. At the time it was described as a lower-body injury, but given that Fantilli was in a walking boot it is likely an ankle injury of some sort. If it's an Achilles injury, the year might be done for Fantilli.



Fantilli was one of the few bright spots for Columbus this season as the 19-year-old, third overall pick had registered 27 points in 49 games in his first pro season. His 27 points are good enough for fourth in the rookie scoring race, behind Connor Bedard and nipping at the heels of Brock Faber and Marco Rossi. Losing Fantilli for a significant amount of time would be a huge blow to the Blue Jackets who are already without Patrik Laine and are dealing with a disgruntled David Jiricek.