Sillinger signs 2-year, $4.5 million contract with Blue Jackets

Last season, the forward achieved a career-best 32 points in 77 NHL games.

Cole Sillinger signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $2.25 million.

Last season, the 21-year-old restricted free agent forward, playing with the Blue Jackets, achieved an NHL career-high of 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 77 games.

“Cole Sillinger is a very smart, two-way center who competes extremely hard at both ends of the ice,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. “He played over 200 NHL games before turning 21 and is coming off his best season, so we are looking forward to his continued growth as a player. He is going to be an important part of the present and future of this club.”

Selected by Columbus in the first round (No. 12) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Sillinger has 74 points (32 goals, 42 assists) in 220 games.