🏒 Owen Sillinger C

Owen Sillinger made his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2025, marking a significant milestone in his professional hockey journey. The 27-year-old center logged 13:09 of ice time in his first NHL appearance, recording 2 penalty minutes while taking 16 shifts and posting a 40% success rate in the faceoff circle. Sillinger's path to the NHL represents a testament to development through the Blue Jackets' system, particularly with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Prior to his NHL debut, he established himself as a reliable contributor in Cleveland, where he posted his best professional season in 2023-24 with 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 69 games.

His strong two-way play and versatility were particularly evident during the Monsters' 2024 Calder Cup playoff run, where he contributed 6 points in 14 games as the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals. The timing of Sillinger's NHL debut carries additional significance as he became the eighth-oldest player in Blue Jackets history to make his NHL debut. His promotion to Columbus created a unique family connection within the organization, as his younger brother Cole is also a member of the Blue Jackets, though Cole was unavailable due to illness during Owen's debut game. In the AHL, Sillinger has demonstrated consistent improvement since joining the Cleveland Monsters, accumulating 110 points (33 goals, 77 assists) in 192 games. His ability to play all three forward positions has made him a valuable asset within the organization's depth chart.

Key Takeaway: While Sillinger's NHL sample size remains limited, his steady progression through the AHL ranks and versatility as a forward suggests he could provide valuable organizational depth for the Blue Jackets under head coach Dean Evason's system, particularly in situations requiring responsible two-way play and positional flexibility.