Jack Roslovic's Gamble Could Open the Door for a Maple Leafs Steal
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
It seems like free agent forward Jack Roslovic is betting on himself and still hasn't signed a deal but that could lead perfectly into the Toronto Maple Leafs' hands according to Frank Seravalli.
The news that dominated the headlines for the majority of the summer has to deal with the entire Jack Roslovic saga. A free agent, he was quickly left as the premier target available as teams made their moves and he awaited an offer.
Well, we're getting into preseason and he is still without a deal, and it's becoming seriously questionable as to what his motives are for not signing yet as you'd think a guy who just scored 22 goals wanted to cash in.
Why Jack Roslovic Is Betting on Himself With a Short-Term Deal
Maybe it has something to do with his mentality as he might be gambling on himself, and according to a new report from NHL Insider Frank Seravalli; it's a risky proposition that teams are gauging.
Speaking on behalf of Bleacher Report, Seravalli explained that Roslovic still has serious interest from several teams including Toronto, and they are going to play the waiting game to see if the free agent is willing to cave:
You've got your contenders that are sort of looking to see if Jack Roslovic is willing to bet on himself and take a short term, short money deal; I don't think the door is 100% completely closed in Carolina; Leafs; Canucks.
It's a big switch from the supposed three-year deal that Roslovic and his camp were looking for earlier in the summer, and with time ticking down he might decide to just take what he can get.
How the Maple Leafs Could Benefit If the Gamble Pays Off
Which is going to pay off handsomely for the Maple Leafs if they are able to get their hands on Roslovic, especially for cheap.
If he wants to play for a contender (why wouldn't he?) then he needs to accept the fact that he is going to be a secondary option and should use this season as a stepping stone to next year.
2026 free agency is going to be wild, and if Roslovic can help Toronto both in the regular season and perhaps be that playoff surprise that the team needs; it could pay off for him in the long run.
It's also no real sweat off Brad Treliving's back if Roslovic only signs for a year, as he can maximize the most out of the forward, and decide much later if he wants to bring him back or say thank you and move onto bigger fish.
Roslovic, 28, had 39 points in 81 games last year for the Hurricanes (22 goals, 17 assists) while also adding four points in nine playoff contests (1 goal, 3 assists).
For his career, the Columbus, Ohio native has 260 points in 526 games (102 goals, 158 assists) and was drafted 25th overall in 2015 by the Winnipeg Jets.
Another big plus to bringing him in is his familiarity with Auston Matthews, having played together with the USNTDP (United States National Team Development Program) and he would be a perfect addition to all four lines depending on the situation.
One knock is that he isn't great defensively, however working under Craig Berube and having more than enough pieces to help cover for him could work out perfectly for the Leafs.
So while we wait and see what exactly Jack Roslovic is going to do this season, we know that the Maple Leafs are keeping a close eye on things and could very well be fielding an offer in the coming days.
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