Host of the Nationwide Podcast & the Athletic's Aaron Portzline (7/24/26)
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Hey, it's Bob Stauffer. I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Oilers Now ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime.
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And now talking a little bit about the Columbus Blue Jackets. From the Athletic and the Front and Nationwide podcast, Aaron Portsline joining us. Aaron, how are you today? Aaron, you there? Yeah, I got you. How are you? Loud and clear. How are you doing? Okay. Awesome stuff. Taking a look at this Columbus Blue Jackets roster, a huge signing today, Cole Sillinger signing a brand new deal. And, you know, he was one of two restricted free agents. Adam Fantilli still trying to figure him out. But I heard he was on vacation in Italy right now. And that's kind of why it's paused. There's not much of a rush there. But tell me a little bit about Sillinger and what you think of the new contract.
Yeah, well, I mean, honestly, I was a little surprised that this one was headed to arbitration because I don't think Cole Sillinger is an arbitration-like player. You can't argue intangibles. You can't argue leadership and all those things that he brings to the table. You can only argue numbers. And frankly, his numbers, it's not even my opinion. It's just his numbers probably... aren't the best argument in arbitration. So good on him to get it done early. Three years, 4.6. That tells me that the team, and I fall into this category too, that the team expects him to start scoring more. He gets a ton of chances. He's had trouble finishing. Had over 140 shots last year. His goals have gone a bit down each year, but boy,
He found a home on a line with Charlie Coyle and Matthew Olivier last year. Third line, but they feel like that line can do some offensive damage as well. So good to have him in the fold because they feel like he's a big part of the team here.
The Blue Jackets were in the mix for a while throughout the season, and it just didn't go the way they wanted towards the end of the year. And I remember watching Rick Bonas' media availability at the end of the season, and it was...
Who is Aaron Portzline and why is he on Oilers Now?
It was fiery, man. If you're on one side of it, you want to run through a brick wall, and if you're on the other side, you're terrified. That guy's pretty intimidating. I mean, how do you feel about him as a coach and Don Waddell's decision to bring him back and that media availability? Because I haven't talked to anyone from Columbus about it yet, and I've been jonesing too, man.
Yeah, well, I've got a lot of thoughts about that. First of all, it was... I think he spoke for about 80% of the fan base here because there's rage among the masses. where, you know, it hasn't been an easy quarter century in the league, you know? Yeah. Like, frustration tilts at some point. Also, I wondered, too, like, he's saying all those things. You can't possibly not bring him back now, right? Like, was that his job interview for the extension? I think the third point, too, is that – Some of the players are going to hear that. The right ones, the good ones are going to hear that. The ones he's probably not talking about, to be honest with you.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–3:29
2
Who is Aaron Portzline and why is he on Oilers Now?
3:29–7:00
3
What did Aaron say about Cole Sillinger's new contract and arbitration?
7:00–13:27
4
How does Rick Bowness's fiery media availability shape the Blue Jackets' culture?
13:27–18:49
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from Oilers NOW with Bob Stauffer
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The Cult of Hockey's David Staples (9/18/26)
Hockey Blogger Bruce Curlock (9/17/26)
100% Hockey's John Shannon (9/17/26)