Blue Jackets’ Cole Sillinger cleared to return following 11-game injury absence

The Columbus Blue Jackets could soon see a boost to their lineup as center Cole Sillinger has been medically cleared to return, reports Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.

Sidelined since late February after suffering a shoulder injury, Sillinger has been out of the lineup for the past 11 games but, as Portzline notes, he could return for the Blue Jackets’ next game coming Friday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Through 54 appearances with the Blue Jackets this season, Sillinger has notched nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points coupled with 37 penalty minutes and a minus-22 rating. In all, Sillinger sits only four points shy of surpassing his career-high 32-point finish he set a year ago after tallying 13 goals and 19 assists through 77 appearances.

Originally chosen 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old Columbus native has since competed in four seasons and 274 career contests in which he has collected 41 goals and 62 assists for 103 points.

Last August, the Blue Jackets signed Sillinger to a two-year extension that carries a $2.25-million annual average value, per PuckPedia.

Sillinger’s pending re-entry to the lineup is another positive note on the injury front for the Blue Jackets who on Monday saw fellow forward Sean Monahan return following a 28-game absence related to a sprained wrist. Skating in his first season with the Blue Jackets, the veteran center has scored north of point-per-game production with 14 goals and 29 assists coming in 42 appearances. Facing the New York Islanders on Monday, Monahan finished with two assists en route to a 4-3 shootout victory.

For the Blue Jackets, on the season the club sits 32-29-9 and two points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020.