Sophomore slumps are real. Just ask Columbus Blue Jackets C-Cole Sillinger, who has two goals on the season after scoring 16 as a rookie. Goals are not the only thing that dipped four assists down from 15; six points down from 31 ice time has been slashed by nearly a minute. What may be the worst thing for a young player, let alone a second year player, is that Sillinger has zero confidence right now.
While it would be wrong just to point out Cole Sillinger’s production dip on a Blue Jackets team where nearly every player’s numbers have dropped, it is alarming based on the fact Sillinger is viewed as a long-term player for the organization.
After a promising rookie season, Sillinger’s lack of confidence has been glaring. Heading into training camp, the expectation was that Sillinger would, at the very least, nail down the third-line center spot. Most likely, he would be on the second line. Sillinger has yet to nail down any spot and has been up and down the lineup, hoping to spark confidence.
Having been a healthy scratch multiple times, it would be unwise to just sit the young forward and further damage confidence. The season is half over, and in a bad season for the Blue Jackets, perhaps a trip to the Cleveland Monsters and the AHL could help reset the young Sillinger. However, this would have to be presented in a way that would not cause further damage.
With captain Boone Jenner back from a broken thumb, Columbus should do right by the young Sillinger and send him to Cleveland. This way, he could get more ice time and work on getting his game rounded back into form. Tough choices need to be made. The Blue Jackets are now on track for 52 points this season. Clearly, the team is staring at a high draft pick.
Playing a young player on a team going nowhere with no confidence is not a smart move. Because Cole Sillinger has the tools to be a very solid, very productive player for a long time, this is the only move that makes sense.
