The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Cole Sillinger to a three-year, $13.875 million contract ($4.625 million AAV) through the 2028-29 season, club general manager Don Waddell announced Saturday. Sillinger and the Blue Jackets were scheduled to go to arbitration on Monday.

“Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve,” said Waddell. “He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization.”

Sillinger, 23, has registered 51 goals and 89 assists with 508 hits, while averaging 15:03 of ice time in 367 career games with the Blue Jackets since making his NHL debut in 2021-22. He was selected by Columbus in the first-round, 12th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft, he leads all players from that draft class in games played.

Born in Columbus during the time his father Mike Sillinger played for Columbus, he grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan. He set single-season career highs in assists, points (tied), plus/minus rating, and games played last season with 8-25-33. He became the fourth-youngest player to make their NHL debut with the club at 18 years and 171 days on Oct. 14, 2021 vs. Arizona.

With Sillinger’s contract extension and the Blue Jackets’ signing of goaltender Jet Greaves earlier in the week, the club has yet to go to arbitration in its 25-year history. The only remaining RFA this summer is centerman Adam Fantilli. Fantilli was not eligible to go to arbitration, but must be signed if he is going play this season.