The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed 2021 first-round pick, 12th overall, Cole Sillinger, to a three-year entry-level contract. The team announced the move on Wednesday.
Another Sillinger joins the ranks 💪
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 18, 2021
Cole Sillinger Signs with Columbus Blue Jackets
With the WHL season continuously delayed due to COVID-19, top NHL Draft prospect Cole Sillinger opted to play in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede this year. In 31 games, Sillinger proved to be one of the most dynamic players in the league, scoring 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. The choice meant that he needed to spend the entire season in the USHL. He could not rejoin Medicine Hat when the WHL season finally started.
Sillinger was the 11th overall pick of the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. He enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Tigers putting up 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points in 48 WHL games in 2019-20. While he didn’t win league-wide honours, he was named Medicine Hat’s Rookie of the Year. Sillinger also played for Team Canada White at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored five goals in six tournament games. Sillinger is the son of Mike Sillinger, who played over 1000 games in the NHL over 18 seasons with 12 different NHL teams. His brothers, Luke and Owen are playing NCAA Hockey for Bemidji State.
Per the Blue Jackets Press Release, “Sillinger was born in Columbus while his father, Mike, played for the Blue Jackets. The elder Sillinger spent 18 seasons in the NHL and posted 240-308-548 in 1,049 career games with 12 different teams from 1990-2009. He registered 38-48-86 in 155 games over two seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2001-03.”
Main Photo:
Top NHL prospect Cole Sillinger is staying with the @sfstampede and not returning to the WHL until the completion of the USHL season. A big factor is his US citizenship and the fact USHL is already playing. He is @tigershockey property. (📷: @sfstampede) pic.twitter.com/zyxqNvVOE3
— Rod Pedersen (@rodpedersen) February 20, 2021
