The Columbus Blue Jackets have reached a three-year, $13.875 million contract with Cole Sillinger, avoiding arbitration and signaling continued confidence in the 23-year-old forward. The deal carries an average annual value of $4.625 million and extends Sillinger’s tenure with the team through 2029, a key step as the club builds around a still-unsigned Adam Fantilli. Sillinger, who has played five NHL seasons, is valued for his versatility as a two-way forward who can fill multiple roles, most recently contributing on a productive line that helped anchor the middle of the lineup. While expectations for him to become a top-line scorer remain, the contract emphasizes his role as a reliable middle-six contributor capable of shifting between center and wing as needed. The Blue Jackets recently secured additional depth, including goaltender Jet Greaves, underscoring a broader effort to maintain a competitive roster around young talent. Critics and fans alike view Sillinger’s deal as prudent cap management that preserves core depth while the team navigates signing Fantilli and potential future moves.