Strange Situation Developing Around Maple Leafs' Top Free Agent Target
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There's been no real update regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jack Roslovic, which is strange given how linked the two have been; so is there going to be a deal?
Weeks have gone by since we heard any real update regarding unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic, who still remains unsigned and the prime target for teams this offseason.
We named his price, but so far no one has seemed to budge, and while there was some speculation that he was waiting for certain teams to make room for him, he still hasn't given any indication about where he might go.
Why the Maple Leafs Haven't Sealed the Deal Yet
For the Maple Leafs, who were linked to Roslovic over those weeks, he would make perfect sense to bring in, but the fact the team can't seem to shake the contracts of Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf yet means that so far, no signing.
They only have $1.92-million in cap space after re-signing Nick Robertson, so unless Roslovic drastically reduces his asking price, then Toronto is going to be forced to move money somewhere.
At this point, a contract buyout seems to be the only option if there are no takers; but that means less money to work with.
Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Leafs were still in the mix, but moving money out remains the main concern:
I've heard there's still a few teams looking at him. He's the best available player remaining, and obviously, he hasn't found anything he 100 percent likes, but there's definitely a few teams poking around there.
I've heard five or six, so he has to get to something he's comfortable with, and we know with Toronto, they're trying to move money around.
I've heard five or six, so he has to get to something he's comfortable with, and we know with Toronto, they're trying to move money around.
Roslovic's Signing A Ticking Time Bomb for Brad Treliving
It makes a lot of sense to bring in Roslovic not only because he can add that secondary scoring punch, but has familiarity playing with Auston Matthews and giving the captain someone he's got history with and isn't Mitch Marner is a huge benefit to kickstarting his offense.
Last season Roslovic had 22 goals and and 39 points in 81 games, tying his career-high while playing the third most minutes for his career, and also added a very solid 54.1% face-off win percentage.
That's the type of secondary scoring Toronto needs, with the flexibility to play either on the wing or up the middle, and while he's only going to coat about $3-million per season, that's a number unfeasible for the team right now.
If he can't get signed by Treliving, he'll no doubt find a lot of backlash from fans who will be stunned that weeks go by with nothing, and may start to feel his identity changes lans have backfired.
But there's always time, though there's a chance that Toronto's inability to clear space is going to bite them hard come October.
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