The Maple Leafs may already have an unexpected answer beside Auston Matthews

Jack Roslovic may have been signed as forward depth but his first opportunity with the Maple Leafs could be bigger than expected.

NHL.com currently has Roslovic pencilled in as the winger joining Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews on the first line ahead of some prominent names like William Nylander and Gavin McKenna.

If that's how Jim Hiller wants to build the lineup to start the season, it could end up giving Roslovic and early chance to help prove he can spread the offence through the lineup and unlock some old chemistry with Matthews.

Jack Roslovic has the tools to complement Auston Matthews

Roslovic adds a proven 20-goal scorer to the lineup but alongside Matthews, won't necessarily overshadow him or need more opportunities than someone like William Nylander might.

He's got some pretty solid speed (finishing in the 76th percentile last year in max skating speed) while also being a player with above average possession numbers over the past three seasons. Knies will likely be the bulky puck retriever who uses his size and strength to bully opponents, but Roslovic is a guy who can hang around the boards and attack from the wing.

He also had 30 SOG along the boards and 39 SOG from high-danger areas. If Knies can force a turnover and gain possession, then Roslovic can be there to help if Matthews isn't exactly in the best spot and adding another scoring option is always a positive.

Roslovic may not be your typical first-line winger but his resume proves that he's someone with 20+ goal potential and also someone who has familiarity playing alongside Matthews having done so with the USNTDP group where Matthews finished first in scoring and Roslovic finished second.

The projected role for Roslovic will have a chain reaction through the rest of the Maple Leafs lineup

NHL.com currently has the top-nine lineup projected as such:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Jack Roslovic

Gavin McKenna -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Nick Paul -- Colton Sissons -- Easton Cowan

That gives McKenna a chance to acclimate himself without immediate first-line pressure and he gets to learn from two leaders and veterans in Nylander and Tavares while also spreading out the offence a little bit.

Cowan does get pushed down however Paul is a multiple 20-goal scorer who could benefit from Cowan's creativity and playmaking, meanwhile Sissons is a player who is a highly defensive and possession-heavy player who can fight for pucks and get the puck to Cowan for offensive chances.

But it does prevent the top-six from being too clogged with stars and relying solely on a bottom-six built on grit and defensive metrics. Taking a look at Florida's prior success, they had a lot of help from their bottom-six on their way to two Stanley Cups, so spreading out the offence and creating more balance is a key to at least competing.

While NHL.com is simply projecting what the Maple Leafs may look like on opening night, but putting Roslovic up top is a good way to balance the lineup while also giving Auston Matthews a piece he can rely on.

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