The Blue Jackets will be without center Cole Sillinger for this weekend’s Stadium Series and at least a few games after, general manager Don Waddell said on Columbus’ 97.1 The Fan today (via Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers).
Sillinger, 21, left in the first period of yesterday’s game against the Red Wings after taking a hit from Detroit star Moritz Seider. He didn’t leave the game immediately after the hit, skating a couple of additional shifts, but went for the room with five minutes left in the frame and didn’t return.
It turns out Sillinger’s injury is what spurred the recall of winger Mikael Pyyhtia from AHL Cleveland this morning. The Jackets haven’t been carrying an extra forward coming out of the 4 Nations break, so they would have had to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen in this weekend’s outdoor game without a recall. Instead, Sillinger will be sidelined while Pyyhtia makes his 47th appearance of the season for Columbus.
It’s a tough break for Sillinger, who’s establishing his floor as a middle-six forward. The 2021 12th overall pick has had a few minor injury and illness-related absences this season, but when in the lineup, he’s produced at a 44-point pace over a full season. Averaging a career-high 17:18 per game, he’s notched 9-20–29 through 54 appearances. His -15 rating is the worst on the team, though, and his possession metrics paint a similarly disappointing picture defensively. Columbus allows 3.36 goals per hour with Sillinger on the ice at 5v5, the most of any lineup regular outside of Jack Johnson and James van Riemsdyk. The Jackets also allow more scoring chances per hour (30.85) with Sillinger on the ice than with any other active skater.
Nonetheless, he’s had to produce in important minutes with key forwards Yegor Chinakhov, Boone Jenner, and Sean Monahan all missing significant chunks of the season. His absence will likely turn up the urgency dial for Waddell to acquire a forward on deadline day – something that’s a clear priority with Columbus in position to end its five-year postseason drought.
With Chinakhov and Monahan still out, Justin Danforth figures to step into top-six minutes in Sillinger’s absence. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has 5-7–12 through 38 games this season, averaging a shade under 15 minutes per contest.
ya don’t mess with Mo Hitz Seider!!!
Don’t know if he would be on the market, but Kadri would be perfect for them.