Sillinger has bounced from Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League to Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League, and after Columbus selected him with the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, he was expecting to go back to Medicine Hat for another season after what he believed would be a short appearance at Blue Jackets training camp.
He saw the number of players shrinking, but his nameplate and locker stall remained.
"I wanted to come to camp with an open mind and believe that I had a chance to make it," Sillinger said. "Because the first person that didn't believe I could be on the team was me. I was probably getting sent home fairly fast. So yeah, it's pretty cool that now I'm in this step."
Sillinger has scored five points (three goals, two assists) and is averaging 13:42 of ice time in nine games with the Blue Jackets, including two goals and an assist in their 5-4 overtime win at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. More than his offensive skills, what's stood out about him is his maturity and intelligence.
"What's impressed me the most about him is his hockey acumen, his IQ, because he's done a tremendous job of processing what we're trying to apply," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "Trust me, there's room to grow in his game. I'm not saying he's perfect, he's far from it, but we'll go through video sessions as a group, and he stands out right away. I've used him several times as an example of what we're teaching and how we apply it."
Sillinger credits some of that hockey IQ to his father, Mike Sillinger, who played 1,049 NHL games with 12 teams, including two seasons (2001-03) for the Blue Jackets. Cole was born in Columbus during his father's time there but said the family moved away when he was about 6 months old.
"From all of his advice, the thing that I remember the most is control what you can control, and for me that's my work ethic and my attitude," Sillinger said. "Going forward now that's what I have to do. Not get too comfortable in this position, but make sure I'm a really hard worker and make sure I'm a great teammate to all my teammates. I think that goes a long way."
Those teammates have been impressed with Sillinger. The 18-year-old is the youngest player to skate in the NHL this season.
"His skill set obviously and just his maturity, the way he approaches the game, I think he's beyond his years there," Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. "He doesn't seem like the youngest to me just seeing him day in and day out. He's got all the knacks of being a professional already.
"On the ice you see how good of a player he is, the difference and impact he can have on games. He's been great for us. He just always seems to be in the right spots, understands the game really well. Off the ice he's a good kid. It's not surprising that he is here at such a young age."
Whether Sillinger stays in Columbus remains to be seen. If he plays a 10th game, it will start the first season of his three-year, entry-level contract. The Blue Jackets host the Avalanche on Saturday.
They can still send Sillinger back to Medicine Hat, but if he plays another NHL game it would burn the first season of the contract. Sillinger hasn't spent any time checking days off the calendar and said he hasn't been told about what the next step could be.
"No one has said that to me, and I don't expect them to tell me that until my play decides that," he said. "'Lars,' [general manager] Jarmo [Kekalainen] and the whole Columbus staff will have their opinion on what they think is best for me. But ultimately, what's going to decide that is my play.
"I try to take it day by day and I guess take it game by game. I think the better I do that, I think the more success I'll have down the road."
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report
