Cole Sillinger 'took huge strides' for Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24

Cole Sillinger is built like an NHL player in his mid-20s, talks like a player who's been in the league at least that long and has a dad, Mike, who played 1,049 games in the league for 12 teams over 17 years — including two for the Blue Jackets. The younger Sillinger has already logged 220 NHL games since striding into his dad's former locker room with an uncommon confidence for somebody who spent his entire rookie season as the league's youngest player. Sillinger was 18 that season. Sillinger is also a key piece of the Blue Jackets' rebuild, which they began in 2021 by selecting Kent Johnson fifth overall and Sillinger with the 12th pick.