The Columbus Blue Jackets are retaining one of their own. Forward Cole Sillinger has a new contract to keep him in the state of Ohio. He is signing a new deal for two years and will have an AAV of $2.25 million. Despite being buried in the basement of the Metropolitan Division, the future is bright.
Cole Sillinger, signed 2x$2.3M by CBJ, is a young shoot-first centre who creates mostly off the rush. Production rate wasn't bad in year three but some pieces still need to be put together. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ewiTXsxwDE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 21, 2024
Sillinger Signs Contract to stay in Columbus
The future remains bright for the Blue Jackets. They haven’t seen the success they’d like to see, but they have a young stockpile of talent in the fold. This includes Sillinger, who’s been a consistent producer.
The 2022-23 season was a down year for Sillinger, as he finished with 11 points in 64 games. However, the other two seasons he was the definition of consistency. His rookie season, he went on to score 16 goals and 31 points. This last season, he scored 13 goals but set a career high in assists and points. So, Sillinger saw his game come together and replicate his successful rookie season.
Sillinger is a good young piece to have in the fold. Two 30 point seasons is good for him and he is only going to get better. With proper coaching and development, his game can reach new heights and this is a great deal for both sides.
What This Means for Columbus
The Sillinger contract signals what the future holds for the Blue Jackets. They are showing that they are continuing the youth movement and keeping all their young guys in the fold. While there are still veteran presences on the roster, the youth movement is real in Columbus.
While also retaining Kirill Marchenko, the club still has Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and now Sillinger and key pieces to build around and develop. That’s where the Sillinger contract is huge going forward. It’s a new year and a new fresh start and it can only go up from here.
Main Photo: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
