Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Cole Sillinger to Multi-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a notable move, as they have signed forward Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract. He will carry a $2.25 million cap hit starting in the 2024-25 season.

#CBJ have signed center Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract. He will be a restricted free agent at expiry.

2024-25: $2.25 million
2025-26: $2.25 million
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 21, 2024

Reports surfaced that the Blue Jackets and Sillinger were close on a new deal earlier this month, and now it has come to fruition. With this move, the Blue Jackets have gotten Sillinger locked up on a bridge deal as he continues to develop his game.

Sillinger, 21, appeared in 77 games this past season with the Blue Jackets, where he had 13 goals and set new career highs with 19 assists and 32 points. The 6-foot-1 forward also became a stronger force with his physicality, as he recorded a career-high 119 hits.

Sillinger was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In 220 career games over three seasons thus far, Sillinger has 32 goals to go along with 74 points.

Overall, this looks like a solid deal for both the player and the team. Sillinger has gotten a nice raise, while the Blue Jackets saved some money by going with the bridge deal instead of a long-term pact. It will now be intriguing to see what kind of season Sillinger puts together from here.