COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 5 -- Opting for free agency, veteran center Mike Sillinger Thursday signed a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Sillinger was one of five Group V free agents in the NHL, those players who have the right to elect once in their careers to become unrestricted. The scrappy, two-way center took advantage, leaving the Ottawa Senators, for whom he played 13 games after being acquired from the Florida Panthers for a third-round draft pick.
The 30-year-old Sillinger had 16 goals and 25 assists in 68 games last season, his 11th in the NHL. He also was third in the league with a 60.3 faceoff percentage.
Thursday's move reunites Sillinger with left wing Ray Whitney, a teammate with the Panthers in 68 games over two seasons.
Sillinger, who was Team Canada's captain at last year's World Championships, has 115 goals and 173 assists in 598 NHL games, also playing for Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Anaheim and Detroit.
Group V players have completed 10 or more professional seasons, earned less than the league's average salary in 2000-01 and have received a timely qualifying offer. They have until July 15 to exercise their right for unrestricted free agency.
The original team has the right to match or can receive draft compensation for losing the Group V player.
