This morning, Cole Sillinger and the Columbus Blue Jackets signed a short two-year, $2.25 million AAV contract that keeps Sillinger with the Union Blues through the end of the 2025-2026 season. Cole was the last known move Don Waddell had to make this offseason after Patrik Laine was traded to the Montreal Canadiens yesterday.
Sillinger, now just 21 but already heading into his fourth season in the NHL, was the last RFA to be signed to the CBJ roster. He has a record of 32-42-74 with 105 PIM and a career record of -49 in 220 games played.
Selected 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he excelled by breaking into the NHL immediately and breaking out in his rookie year, posting a 16-15-31 record in 79 games. After a much-publicized sophomore slump, Sillinger returned to his rookie form with 32 points in the 2023-2024 season.
Cole’s career in the NHL has been marked by ups and downs so far. His performance slump in his second year was permanent, which significantly dampened his chances of development as a young talent.
Most scouting reports and articles on young talent that I have looked at project Sillinger as a future center who will have a good goal-scoring instinct, a high hockey IQ, good leadership skills and a rough playing style. There is still a good chance he will be a star player, but the signs he showed in his rookie season of being able to do that diminished somewhat over the next two seasons.
Regardless, the Blue Jackets need more players like Cole. He will likely fit perfectly in Dean Evason’s system, which relies on tough forechecking, smart physical play and driving the boards.
In addition to fighting and hitting good shots, Cole showed a good eye for collecting the puck and decent breakout plays under Pascal Vincent’s system in 2023-2024. I have no doubt that playing under Evason’s more defined program will benefit him and his development.
Some will be concerned that Sillinger won’t receive a longer-term contract extension that would have secured the final year or two of his RFA rights with the Blue Jackets, but I would argue that this deal makes sense for the team and especially for Cole.
The 2-year period will get Cole into his arbitration-eligible seasons and hopefully allow him to establish himself as a solid mid-range or top-six center who improves his game under Evason. If he can do that, he could make a lot more money long-term than if he signed a 4- or 5-year deal.
For the Jackets, it’s a risk-free, short-term bridge deal that allows them to continue to evaluate Sillinger’s talent while also allowing them to easily exit after just two seasons if he no longer fits the club’s plans. However, if we rely on Don Waddell’s comments, I think Cole will have a place with the Jackets even if he doesn’t quite prove to be a second-line center.
“Cole Sillinger is a very smart center who plays both ways and competes extremely hard at both ends of the ice. He played over 200 NHL games before his 21st birthday and just had his best season, so we look forward to his continued development as a player. He will be an important part of the present and future of this club.”
– Don Waddell
Jackets fans can be excited to see how Cole will develop over the next few years and hope for a longer-term contract extension beyond this one.
