The Columbus Blue Jackets are making changes again this offseason. It started with the hiring of a new general manager. After hiring Don Waddell, he brought in Dean Evason as the team’s new head coach, along with a new assistant coaching staff.
Part of the team’s effort to rebuild is to champion its young players. The team has amassed draft picks and young players over the past five years, but now there is a renewed effort to integrate those players into the lineup.
One of these important players is forward Cole Sillinger. The team selected him 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft and he made the team immediately. After three seasons in Columbus, the winger has now expired from his entry-level contract and needs a new one.
He’s currently a restricted free agent, but according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Blue Jackets and Sillinger are close to a contract extension. He posted an encouraging update via his X account.
“Sounds like #CBJ and restricted free agent Cole Sillinger are close to signing,” he wrote. “It will likely be a two-year deal.”
Sounds like #CBJ and restricted free agent Cole Sillinger are close to signing a contract, likely a two-year deal.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) 9 August 2024
Sillinger had a solid season in 2023, scoring 13 goals, dishing out 19 assists and finishing with 32 points in 77 games. That was a huge improvement from his second season in the NHL, when he struggled to find consistency. Last year, Sillinger saw more ice time, going from about 13 minutes to over 16 minutes per game.
At just 21 years old, Sillinger has already played 220 NHL games. He has 74 points in his short career and the Blue Jackets hope this is just the beginning of his offensive output. If Portzline’s insight proves correct, the Jackets will give him a bridge contract to see if he can take another step forward. With that in mind, Sillinger will likely sign a contract with an average annual value of between $1.5 million and $3 million.
With Sillinger under contract, the Blue Jackets are building a new core. He joins young players like Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Cayden Lindstrom and Kirill Marchenko in an improving forward group and defensemen like Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk in a group of players that can give the Blue Jackets plenty to be excited about in 2024 and beyond.
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