Sillinger could begin the season back with AHL Cleveland due to the Blue Jackets' roster crunch, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
The 20-year-old was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and is still very much in the Blue Jackets' future plans, but Sillinger has an extra hurdle to overcome as one of a handful of players on the roster who can be sent to the AHL without needing to clear waivers. He's also coming off a rough sophomore campaign, with three goals and 11 points in 64 outings, after scoring 16 goals and 31 points in 79 NHL games as an 18-year-old rookie. Sillinger managed two goals and six points in 11 games with AHL Cleveland last season. With Adam Fantilli now in town as the Jackets' franchise player, Sillinger is facing less pressure to develop into a future No. 1 center, but regaining his confidence in the minors before returning to Columbus could help him secure a middle-six role down the road.