Fantilli returns from injury at Blue Jackets’ final practice
Adam Fantilli has watched the replay many times.
Curious about a skate laceration that ended his rookie season Jan. 28, the Blue
Jackets’ third overall pick from the 2023
NHL draft couldn’t tell how it happened until he saw it in slow motion.
“I’ve watched it 100 times,” Fantili said. “I still can’t really see it. Everybody thought I lost a (skate) blade or something. It was just such a quick play. I felt it right away, and there’s not much you can do. I’ve watched in ‘slo-mo.’ I finally got an angle where I could see the blade going on the back, and it makes sense.” Even his skate was gashed.
“It was definitely just a weird play, but it happens,” Fantilli said Monday after returning to practice. “It’s part of the game.”
After delivering a check against Seattle’s Jared Mccann in the second period of the Jackets’ 4-2 loss, Fantilli felt the opposing forward’s left skate slice his left calf.
“I had three layers (of socks) on,” Fantilli said. “Our game socks have two layers of Kevlar in the back, and I had the socks on, and who knows, maybe it would’ve been a lot worse had I not been wearing them. You don’t really know, but I’m glad I was wearing them. I’m happy it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.”
Fantilli was unable to return during the initial eight-week recovery window he was given and couldn’t practice until Monday at Nationwide Arena, a day before the season finale against the Carolina Hurricanes. His season is over, after holding out hope until about a week ago.
That’s why skating in practice put a smile on his face despite an orange “no contact” jersey covering his shoulder pads.
“I was having a blast out there,” Fantilli said. “It’s just good to be back out (skating) with the guys. I missed them a lot. They just got back from a road trip, so it was good to see them.”
It was an encouraging stride in the right direction.
“I’ve never been cut that deep before, so my mind went to the worst case scenario (initially),” Fantilli said. “I was like, ‘Oh, like, my whole Achilles is gone.’ My foot wasn’t working properly, and when I stepped back down (on the ice), I didn’t feel any bounce off my heel. It felt ‘mushy’ and stuff. It was kind of gross, and I started freaking out. Then the doctor came in and said, ‘No, the Achilles tendon’s fine,’ so that was a big relief.”
Fantilli is viewing his rookie season as a success until his injury luck ran out. Fantilli didn’t miss a game prior to the injury and finished with impressive numbers for a 19-year old center. He scored 12 goals, added 15 assists and totaled 27 points in 49 games, tying him for fifth on the team in goals and placing him 11th in points.
bhedger@dispatch.com