Cole Sillinger believes the onus falls on the players to get the Columbus Blue Jackets into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, the 23-year-old forward, who signed a three-year, $13.875 million contract ($4.625 million average annual value) with Columbus on Saturday and avoided an arbitration hearing, said he is ready to lead the charge.
“I think for us as a group, it’s kind of enough talking about it and more so going out there and doing it, and putting the results in each and every night,” Sillinger said Wednesday. “I think everyone on our team is putting in the work. There’s no doubt about that as far as how the summer has been treated and the last two years for me, personally, obviously there were years of missing the playoff by a couple of points (in 2024-25) and last year as well.”
Columbus has not qualified for the postseason since 2019-20. The Blue Jackets came close last season but went 2-8-1 in their final 11 games, finishing fifth in the Metropolitan Division (40-30-12), six points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers, and seven points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
In 2024-25, Columbus (40-33-9) finished two points behind the New Jersey Devils for third in the Metropolitan and two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card from the East.
“That all shapes us to where we are now and motivates us to get to where we want to be,” Sillinger said. “I thought we had a better chance last year than the previous year, but ultimately, it’s the bond you create through the whole year, leading up to that point where ultimately you’re not even thinking of getting in the playoffs or anything, you’re just so connected as a group and know that ultimately, it will happen.”
It didn’t happen last season, and coach Rick Bowness made his feelings known during an emotional media availability following a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals to end the season April 14.
“I don’t know if I’m back, but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” Bowness said at the time. “These guys they don’t care; losing is not important enough to them, it doesn’t bother them.”
Bowness was hired to replace Dean Evason on Jan. 12 with Columbus last in the Metropolitan at 19-19-7 and helped the Blue Jackets turn things around. They were second in the division on March 24 prior to their collapse.
Bowness will return as coach this season.
“It’s going to be great,” Sillinger said. “Obviously that switch up happened last year and he came in and our group went on a little bit of a run and obviously the last 10-12 games of the year didn’t end up as we wanted to. So, there are big expectations I know for myself individually and for our team collectively.
“There is a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths with the way the year ended, and I know there’s a bitter taste in ‘Bones’ mouth too. To have him and to get on the same page with him right from the start of training camp, I think is going to be huge for our group going forward.”
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The criticism of the team from Bowness resonated throughout the locker room and provided motivation going into the offseason.
It also made players take a hard look in the mirror.
“Just looking at my career at this point, I’d say it’s probably more unfulfilling than fulfilling,” Sillinger said. “I know there’s more in there that I want to provide, and collectively as a group we expect more from ourselves and Bones is such a good communicator. When he came in for the remaining 35 or 40 games and just the communication, just how black and white it was.
“You were never trying to read his mind, there was always a direct message in what he was trying to say and throughout the summer, with all the coaches I’ve had in my career, I’ve never had a coach that communicated this way, with a text here or there or calls here or there and it’s certainly nice to build a relationship in different areas and talk about some other things other than hockey as well.
I’ve really enjoyed my time under ‘Bones’ and I’m looking forward to having a full year with him.”
Sillinger had 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 81 games for the Blue Jackets last season. Selected by Columbus in the first round (No. 12) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Sillinger has 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 367 games.
Playing in the East, where many teams have been active in attempting improve this offseason, will once again make qualifying for the playoffs challenging for Columbus. The Blue Jackets have brought in a number of new players to bolster their lineup, including veteran forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Ryan Lomberg.
“I think the management and the coaching staff, they obviously have belief in us as a group and that’s something I take a lot of pride in,” Sillinger said. “There’s a couple of new faces that are going to help our team big time, but it’s just kind of for us is taking the next step. There’s a lot of youth, and a lot of potential and just a lot of guys that are not at the points they want to get to, and I think it’s just a great opportunity for our group to continue to evolve and hold each other to higher standard and to be that every single day and to bring it every single day, bring that energy -- demand that.”