Cole Sillinger (courtesy WHL)
JULY 23, 2021
COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have selected Sioux Falls center Cole Sillinger with the 12th overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced tonight.
Sillinger, 18, recorded 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points with 39 penalty minutes and five power play goals in 31 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in 2020-21. He was named the USHL’s Rookie of the Year and to the All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star Team. He led league rookies in goals and power play goals (tied) and ranked second in points and points-per-game (1.48) and fourth-T in assists.
The 6-0, 197-pound center, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, tallied 22-33-55 with 22 penalty minutes and a cumulative +20 rating in 52 career outings with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League from 2018-2020. He posted 22-31-53 with eight power play goals and 22 penalty minutes in 48 games in 2019-20. He ranked third-T among WHL rookies in power play goals, fourth in assists (tied) and points and fifth in goals.
His father, Mike, played 18 NHL seasons and posted 240-308-548 in 1,049 career games with 12 different teams from 1990-2009. He registered 38-48-86 in 155 games over two seasons with the Blue Jackets from 2001-03.
Sillinger’s complete NHL Draft profile, complete with career statistics can be found HERE.
The club currently has one more first round pick tonight with the 25th overall selection. Rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Draft will be held virtually on Saturday, July 24 beginning at 11 a.m. The Blue Jackets hold the following picks on Saturday – third round (69th), fourth round (101st), fifth round (132nd and 133rd), sixth round (165th) and seventh round (197th). More information on this event can be obtained by visiting nhl.com/draft.
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