It's been a mediocre, slightly shaky performance from the Blue Jackets through the first four games of the season. Some players haven't made much of an impact yet, and others have stood out already.
One of those players is Cole Sillinger. You could probably even argue that all three players on the third line have been solid so far and have given the team a good chance to win, but I'd like to focus on the youngster who might just be having the offensive breakout we've been waiting for.
Cole Sillinger is off to a hot start
After scoring just eight goals and 33 points last season, Sillinger already has two goals and four points in these first four games. This comes after scoring a greasy goal this past Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, despite eventually losing 5-3.
The 23-year-old also fired the cannon for the first time this year, scoring on a pretty surprising shot after a great effort by Charlie Coyle, who is picking up right where he left off last season and is starting strong himself.
SILLY SZN'S HERE! 💥
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 1, 2026
CBJ x @FanaticsSports pic.twitter.com/J8jkn39mqI
Sillinger has also been arguably the top forward analytically. At 5-on-5, he leads the team in shot attempts and expected goals for per 60 minutes, and is second in high danger chances created, according to MoneyPuck.
He also leads the team in on-ice shot percentage (Corsi) and is second in on-ice expected goals percentage. He's looking great at both ends of the ice, and I'd give the edge to his offensive game so far.
After being drafted 12th overall in 2021, the expectation was that he could be reliable on defense, which has undoubtedly been the case, but also that he could be a valuable contributor on offense, which hasn't been as clear.
In fact, he is yet to match his career high in goals with 16 in his rookie season, and has only passed that season total of 31 points by two in his best offensive season.
It's easy to forget that the forward with 371 NHL games under his belt already is still so young, and this season could be a sign of a big step forward in his career.
Even if you put the stats and analytics aside, he's just looked confident and the chemistry of the third forward line is clearly doing wonders on both ends of the ice.
While making bold claims using a sample size of four games may be a bit hasty, it's safe to say that Sillinger should be a player to keep an eye on for a potential breakout that could really boost this team forward.
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