After a bad sophomore year in the NHL, Cole returned to being the promising young center many were excited about when he was drafted. He improved defensively and from the faceoff dot. His consistency was much better and he earned more minutes and trust as the season went on. In a season of bad hockey and poor individual performances, Sillinger was a bright spot.
2023-24 Stats
Games: 77
Goals: 13
Assists: 19
Points: 32
Plus/Minus: -4
PIM: 46
5v5 Corsi%: 47.77
5v5 Fenwick%: 47.76
Off Zone Start %: 52.62
Contract
Sillinger is set to become an RFA this summer, though he does not have arbitration rights. Because he’s already had three full seasons in the NHL, he’s set to become a UFA as soon as the summer of 2028.
High Point
Cole was the only player that showed up on January 6th against the Wild. He recorded a natural hat trick as the Jackets lost 4-3 in OT.
Low Point
A nine-game pointless streak in March was perhaps Sillinger’s low point. Cole was one of the most dependable forwards on the team as far as effort and away-from-the-puck contribution, so a single-game low point doesn’t stick out.
Report Card
B+
Cole’s growth away from the puck can’t be ignored. At times during the season, he was the best 200-foot player for the Jackets. You would have liked to see more than 32 points out of him, but, in his defense, he spent a significant portion of the season playing with guys like Bemstrom, KJ (who had a tough year), and Danforth. The most even-strength goals when Sillinger was on the ice occurred when he was playing with the likes of Marchenko, Texier, and Nylander.
His bounce-back from a bad sophomore year deserves merit. He also showed consistent improvement throughout the season. The bar will be higher next season, but Sillinger’s proven he’s up to the challenge.