The Columbus Blue Jackets are putting nearly $14 million behind a simple belief. Cole Sillinger already does enough without the puck to deserve their trust. At 23, he is also young enough to rediscover the scoring touch that made him a 1st round pick.
Sillinger signed a 3 year, $13.875 million contract on July 25. The agreement avoided salary arbitration and secured a $4.625 million annual cap hit through the 2028 to 2029 season.
It also raised the standard.
Last season, Sillinger finished with 8 goals and 25 assists in 81 games. His 33 points matched a career high, while his assists and games played set new personal bests. Columbus did not commit this money simply to preserve that production. The club is betting that a reliable young forward can become a more dangerous offensive player.
Columbus Paid For The Player He Already Is
Sillinger’s case goes well beyond goals and assists. He delivered 112 hits last season, the 4th highest total on the team, and finished with a plus 2 rating. Across 367 NHL games, he has averaged 15 minutes and 3 seconds of ice time.
That workload separates him from most players his age. Sillinger leads the entire 2021 draft class in games played and hits. He ranks 2nd in shots on goal and 4th in even strength points among players selected that year.
Those rankings place him ahead of several bigger draft names in experience. Owen Power, Matty Beniers, and Mason McTavish all went before Columbus selected Sillinger at No. 12. None has played as many NHL games.
The experience did not come in a protected role. Coaches have moved Sillinger throughout the lineup and asked him to forecheck, absorb contact, support skilled linemates, and remain responsible without the puck. His 508 career hits show his willingness to engage physically. His 663 shots show that he has generated chances, even when the goals have not followed.
Waddell addressed the signing in the club’s July 25 announcement.
“He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age,” Waddell said.
That trust explains why Columbus chose a multiyear commitment instead of allowing the dispute to reach arbitration. It also explains the size of the raise. Sillinger previously carried a $2.25 million annual cap hit under the 2 year contract he signed in August 2024. The Blue Jackets are now paying more than twice that amount because they believe his broader game has moved beyond a temporary bridge salary.
The next step must come with the puck.
The Goals Have To Return
Sillinger’s scoring record remains uneven. He scored 16 goals as an 18 year old rookie, then fell to 3 during a difficult 2nd season. He responded with 13 goals in 2023 to 2024 and 11 in 2024 to 2025. Last season, however, his total slipped to 8 despite playing 81 games.
That decline cannot become the norm. A forward earning $4.625 million does not need to lead the team in goals, but he must create enough offense to support the harder parts of his job. If Sillinger plateaus at 8 goals a year, this cap hit could become a problem for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets have more gifted offensive players. Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Kirill Marchenko carry heavier scoring expectations. Sillinger still has to finish chances, attack the middle of the ice, and provide credible secondary production.
Reaching 15 goals would change the conversation. Combined with his durability, physical play, and defensive responsibility, that level of scoring could make the contract look efficient. Another season in single digits would turn a reasonable bet into a growing concern.
Three Years Will Decide The Value
This is not a traditional prove it contract. Columbus gave Sillinger 3 years of security, and the agreement is positioned to take him to unrestricted free agency after the 2028 to 2029 season. Both sides accepted real stakes.
Sillinger gains time to develop without facing another negotiation next summer. He can also build considerable leverage for his next contract if his offense finally catches up with the rest of his game.
Columbus accepts the risk that his scoring may never rise. The club is paying for the player he is now while betting that his age, experience, and earlier finishing ability point toward something more.
That gamble is defensible. Sillinger stays healthy, handles difficult minutes, and has already played more NHL games than anyone from his draft class. Those qualities matter to a young team trying to become more consistent.
Still, the contract will not be judged by reliability alone. Columbus has paid Sillinger like an established middle 6 forward. Over the next 3 seasons, he must start scoring like one.
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FAQs
Q1. How much is Cole Sillinger’s new contract?
A. Sillinger signed a 3 year, $13.875 million contract. It carries a $4.625 million annual cap hit through the 2028 to 2029 season.
Q2. How many points did Cole Sillinger score last season?
A. He recorded 8 goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 81 games.
Q3. Why did the Blue Jackets give Sillinger a new contract?
A. Columbus values his durability, physical play, defensive responsibility, and extensive NHL experience. The team also believes his offense can improve.
Q4. When can Cole Sillinger become an unrestricted free agent?
A. His contract is positioned to take him to unrestricted free agency after the 2028 to 2029 season.
Q5. What does Cole Sillinger need to improve?
A. He needs to score more consistently. Another single digit goal season would place greater pressure on his $4.625 million cap hit.
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