One of the biggest free agent surprises this summer is that forward Jack Roslovic remains a free agent. Coming off matching his career high in goals last season with 22, the belief was that he’d land a multi-year deal with a raise from the $2.9MM he received last season; we had him ranked 20th in our annual Top 50 UFA list. Instead, as the preseason gets underway tonight, he’s still on the sidelines.
That isn’t to say that he hasn’t had offers, however. In his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link), Pierre LeBrun reports that the Oilers are believed to have made a pitch at some point during the summer, one that was declined. Considering that they’re very tight to the Upper Limit of the salary cap, it stands to reason that the proposal may have come very early in free agency before their roster was filled out. Otherwise, the offer would have needed to be relatively close to the minimum salary for them to stay cap-compliant.
As much as Roslovic has bounced around recently (he has played for three different teams in the last year and a half), he has been able to provide some decent consistent secondary scoring. He had 39 points last season, extending his streak to five straight years of recording more than 30 points. Between that and his ability to play down the middle when needed, Roslovic seemed to be in better shape than he was last summer when he ultimately accepted a one-year deal from Carolina.
LeBrun notes that Roslovic’s desire remains to secure a multi-year contract and he has changed to being represented by ASM’s Justin Duberman (he was previously repped by 4Sports’ Claude Lemieux). Whether that will be enough to get the term and money he’s seeking remains to be seen but with most rosters set heading into the season, it won’t be easy.
LOL!
Man he’s gonna be in the K. You had 39 points guy. Nobody is selling off assets to sign you. Yes 20+ goals is impressive but it’s time to face reality kid you’re not Crosby. Take a
Solid contract and go prove you can do it again. But still 39 points that’s middle sixer numbers at best and he doesn’t do the intangibles. Who’s paying big bucks for a one dimensional bottom sixer. Ego ruling hard here.
Not signing for a team that made the S C finals 2 years in a row is a loser mentality.
Doesn’t guarantee they will make it 3 years in a row. Maybe he has enough in the bank to be a lil picky. League minimum salary on a Canadian team is not a lot of take home pay when factoring in travel etc.
Sure appears that Jack and his reps misplayed the market. KHL will probably be his best option now if money is the main point of contention.
Klingbergged himself
It’s Jack’s world, Were just livin’ in it.
A few years ago, many of us thought that Roslovic was going to come into his own when he went back home to play for CBJ. So much for that. Maybe he thinks that going 54.1% on the dots, his only season being above water, justifies an exorbitant ask for his next contract.
Every year couple third liners/ sixth defensemen think are worth more then they are. This year Roslovic and Grzelcyk.
It sounds like Grzelcyk will have a contract with another team soon.