Blue Jackets Fantilli Settling into Defined Role – The Hockey Writers – Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter their game Saturday against the St. Louis Blues seventh in the NHL in goals for. That in part has helped the team stay within shouting distance of the playoff race.

With skill and young talent all over the ice, seeing the Blue Jackets start to figure things out offensively shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. But perhaps a little surprising is that they’re in the top-10 in offense while Adam Fantilli has seen a slight dip in his numbers despite averaging a little more ice time in Year 2.

Fantilli is still impacting the game when he’s on the ice with his speed and playmaking ability. What is going perhaps a little more unnoticed is what he’s doing with the things that don’t always pop on the scoresheet.

Fantilli Has Defined Role

In recent games, Fantilli has centered a line with James van Riemsdyk on his left and Zach Aston-Reese on his right. That has been the Blue Jackets’ third line.

Head coach Dean Evason said on Saturday morning that the lines except for Sean Monahan’s line could see a different look. According to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets, van Riemsdyk moved up to play with Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson while Mathieu Olivier skated with Fantilli and Aston-Reese at Friday’s practice.

Fantilli is not being asked to carry the offense. He’s being asked to play a defined role as the Blue Jackets’ third-line center. It’s an important role for several reasons. While they will provide some offense and do everything they can to keep the puck out of their next, Aston-Reese said there was another big thing they provide the team as a line. It’s an area that he thinks Fantilli doesn’t get enough credit for.

“I think I’d like to consider it more of an energy line where it’s physical,” Aston-Reese said. “(Fantilli) actually doesn’t get enough credit (for being physical.) Look at the leaderboard. He’s up there a lot of nights chipping in in the hits department. I think it’s generating energy for the team, being physical. I think whoever is with us we’re always going to be pretty sound defensively.”

Looking at the Blue Jackets’ leaders in hits, Aston-Reese has a point. Olivier leads them by far with 141 hits. Then it’s Sean Kuraly with 91 and Aston-Reese with 89. Coming in fourth place in the hits department is Fantilli. He…