The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up Cole Sillinger, reaching a three-year, $13.875 million deal with the restricted free agent forward and sidestepping arbitration.
Sillinger’s new contract comes after he put together a steady run in Columbus, where he has already built a sizable body of work despite still being just 23. Since debuting in 2021-22, he has appeared in 367 career games for the Blue Jackets, producing 51 goals and 89 assists for 140 points. He has also piled up 508 hits and 663 shots on goal while averaging 15:03 of ice time.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell praised the forward’s all-around game and growth. “Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve,” said Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell. “He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization.”
Taken by Columbus in the first round, 12th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft, Sillinger has been one of the most active players from that class. He leads all players drafted in 2021 in games played and hits, ranks second in shots on goal, and sits fourth in even-strength points with 127.
Last season, the forward added eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 81 games for Columbus. Born in Columbus and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, he remains a homegrown piece the Blue Jackets have now committed to for the next three years.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Fans Are Running Out Of Patience With Cayden Lindstrom
Cayden Lindstrom arrived in Columbus with the kind of draft pedigree that usually buys a prospect plenty of patience, but the early returns have only sharpened the scrutiny. Taken fourth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, he was once viewed as the Blue Jackets top prospect, yet his stock has slipped to No. 6 on the organizations latest list after a season at Michigan State that did not match the expectations attached to a high pick.
The numbers tell part of the story, with 3 goals and 10 points in 31 games, and they have done little to quiet the concerns around his development. For a fan base eager to see a real payoff from such a prominent investment, the coming season now feels important for Lindstrom in a way that goes beyond prospect rankings, because Columbus is still waiting for signs that he can turn promise into something much more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Still Have One Adam Fantilli Question Hanging Over Them
The Blue Jackets have already taken care of a couple of their own this summer by re-signing Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger, but the biggest item left on the checklist is still Adam Fantilli. Columbus has been working through contract talks with the free agent center, and the expectation is that those discussions will pick back up next week after a brief pause.
There is no sense of alarm around the situation yet, especially with the club carrying just under $14.5 million in cap room to work with. Fantillis rise has made him one of the more important pieces in Columbus, and even with the talks on hold for the moment, the Blue Jackets still appear to have the flexibility to get something done once the conversation resumes. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Reinforced A Crucial Part Of Their Prospect Pipeline
Kevin Labanc is heading overseas for next season after signing a one-year deal with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland, another reminder of how quickly NHL depth can shift once free agency settles and players start choosing different paths. For Columbus, Labancs decision closes the book on a short stay with the Blue Jackets and leaves another familiar name off the North American board as teams continue sorting through their summer plans.
Elsewhere on the prospect front, Filip Novak landed with the Victoria Royals after his rights were acquired from Lethbridge, giving the Blue Jackets another young player to track in the CHL pipeline. The broader development picture keeps moving too, with Florida locking in its ECHL tie to Savannah for three more years and defenseman Kyle Masters choosing the University of Alberta for next season after a winding run through the trade market. [Read more 🡒]