Don Waddell has checked off his last summer signing item on the Blue Jackets’ long to-do list.
The Jackets’ President of Hockey Operations/General Manager signed 21-year-old center Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract on Wednesday that will carry $2.25 million against the NHL salary cap. Sillinger was playing for the first time since being drafted on April 12.th in total in 2021, so that it had no right to arbitration as a bargaining chip.
More: Cole Sillinger made “great progress” for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023/24
However, Sillinger boasts a track record that includes 32 goals, 42 assists and 74 points in 220 NHL games over three seasons for the Blue Jackets, who now count him as one of their top three pivot points.
“Now it’s about consistency,” Waddell said. “He had a very good first season. His sophomore year wasn’t as good, we’ve seen that a thousand times, the ‘sophomore’ season, and last year he rebounded. So you’d like to think he can pick up from where he was last and continue that from this year on.”
Initially, Sillinger and his agent, Craig Oster of Newport Sports Management, sought a five-year extension. The challenge quickly became determining the annual salary required compared to what he had made in his first three NHL seasons. They eventually agreed with Waddell that a two-year “bridge” deal would be best for both sides. Sillinger’s salary would remain at a lower average rate while he could earn much more with a long-term contract when he next becomes a restricted free agent in 2026.
“I think it’s come across perfectly,” Sillinger said. “I want to be a Blue Jacket as long as possible, and with the new changes in our organization, the new faces in management, I want to hold myself to a higher standard than I have been for the last three years. I feel like I’ve made progress, but it’s been a little inconsistent. So before anything long-term is done, I want to prove it a little bit more. So I think this deal is fair to both sides, and I’m just ready to put all of that behind me and play hockey.”
Sillinger broke into the NHL at age 18, just months after former Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen made him the second of three first-round picks to Columbus. Kent Johnson was selected seven spots earlier at fifth overall and defenseman Corson Ceulemans was selected with the 25th pick.
Johnson returned to Michigan for his sophomore year, Ceulemans went to the University of Wisconsin, and Sillinger earned a spot with the Blue Jackets during his first NHL training camp. After impressing alongside fellow rookie Yegor Chinakhov at the Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament, the two took their chemistry into training camp. Both showed glimpses of what they could become, but also struggled with the inconsistency typical of NHL rookies.
Sillinger played on all four lines as a center and showed why he was drafted so high. The son of longtime former Blue Jackets center Mike Sillinger, he scored 16 goals, dished out 15 assists and finished with 31 points in 79 games, averaging 13:42 per game. Sillinger also scored his first NHL hat trick as a rookie and played plenty of minutes with veteran playmaker Jakub Voracek.
Sillinger also held his own in faceoffs, winning 46.5% of 779 faceoffs, which is a career high. The biggest challenge, as Waddell mentioned, came during his second NHL season. His offensive production dropped to 3-8-11 in 64 games before he finished his career with AHL Cleveland, but he returned last year with a new number (4) and a fresh attitude.
Although his scoring ability continued to leave much to be desired, Sillinger increased his production back to double figures, setting career highs with 13 goals, 19 assists and 32 points in 77 games. He became a more effective center in the two-way position and was again used on all four lines. Sillinger’s plus/minus rating also improved significantly from -23 in the 2022/23 season to -4 and he won 46.3% of 972 faceoffs.
“It’s just about capitalizing on it,” Sillinger said. “I’ve been executing a little bit more, and that’s something I’ve been putting more emphasis on this summer. Now I’m just excited to get back into those positions and, when the time comes, put the puck in the net or make a play, whether it’s in the offensive zone, defensive zone or wherever.”
On offense, Sillinger created more scoring opportunities for himself and others by using his strength and mass to hold onto the puck longer. According to Natural Stat Trick, Sillinger led the Blue Jackets with 146 individual scoring chances at even strength and ranked third with 61 high-threat chances.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets extend contract with Kent Johnson for three years
Since his rookie year, Sillinger has trailed only captain Boone Jenner in both of those categories. If the scoring instinct that got him goals in juniors can resurface, the Jackets could be looking for an impressive performance from Sillinger that could help them exceed expectations.
For more information about the Columbus Blue Jackets, check out the Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets extend contract with Cole Sillinger
