Cole Sillinger’s Four-Game Surge Gives Blue Jackets a Promising Early Signal

Cole Sillinger has given the Blue Jackets an early reason to wonder what his offensive ceiling might look like when the production catches up with his all-around game. Through four games, the 23-year-old has two goals and four points, already a brisk start after finishing last season with eight goals and 33 points.

That pace is a small-sample signal, not a forecast. Columbus has looked uneven over its first four outings, and a handful of games can’t settle what kind of season Sillinger will have. But his early scoring is supported by underlying activity: at five-on-five, he leads the team in shot attempts and expected goals for per 60 minutes, while ranking second in high-danger chances created, according to MoneyPuck.

Production backed by pressure

The individual results have come in different ways. Sillinger scored against St. Louis on Saturday, putting away a hard-working chance in a 5-3 loss. In another goal, a surprising shot found its way in after Charlie Coyle made the play that set it up. The finish drew attention, but the sequence also speaks to the value of a line that can create opportunities through effort and coordination.

Coyle has started strongly, too, and the third forward line has looked like one of the more settled pieces of Columbus’s early lineup. Sillinger’s confidence is apparent, while the group’s chemistry has helped it contribute at both ends. That combination gives the young center a useful platform: he can attack with the puck without his early offensive push being the only measure of his game.

The team-level numbers point in the same direction. Sillinger leads Columbus in on-ice shot-attempt share, referred to in the source analysis as Corsi, and sits second in on-ice expected-goals percentage. Those figures reflect what happens while he’s on the ice; they don’t assign every chance or result to him alone. Still, alongside his individual shot volume and scoring, they suggest his line is spending shifts in productive areas rather than relying only on a few finishes.

The next step after a reliable floor

Sillinger entered the NHL with the profile of a center who could be trusted defensively. Columbus selected him 12th overall in 2021, with the expectation that his game could also grow into a consistent offensive contribution. The defensive reliability has been clearer than the scoring growth so far.

His career benchmarks show why this start has attracted attention. Sillinger’s best goal total remains 16, reached in his rookie season, and his top point total is 33. He has played 371 NHL games already, a workload that can make it easy to overlook that he is still just 23. The early points don’t erase the gap between promise and sustained production, but they offer an encouraging first indication that his offense may be gaining ground.

The question now is whether the chances continue. Shot attempts and expected goals are useful signs of involvement, yet the season will test whether Sillinger can keep generating those looks as opponents adjust and the Blue Jackets’ lineup settles. His four-point opening is meaningful because it comes with strong five-on-five indicators; the larger sample will show whether both can last.

For now, the case for a breakout is straightforward but provisional: Sillinger is scoring, driving attempts, and helping a productive third line. His rookie-season high of 16 goals remains a clear target. If the early activity holds, Columbus could get a more complete offensive season from a young center whose defensive foundation is already established.

That’s the development to watch as the schedule unfolds. Four games are enough to raise the possibility, not declare the outcome. Sillinger has made a compelling start; the next stretch will show whether this is a hot opening or the beginning of a sustained step forward. For further background on his outlook, see the Blue Jackets season preview.