There is no shortage of top-end forward talent on the market this offseason. While many will salivate over the likes of Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, Brock Boeser, and more, there are plenty of depth guys who'll fly under the radar when free agency begins. Hurricanes UFA Jack Roslovic is likely to be one of those players.
The former Winnipeg Jets first-round pick did his best work with the Blue Jackets from 2020 to 2024 before being traded at the deadline to the Rangers last season. Roslovic signed a one-year deal with the Hurricanes last offseason, aiming to re-find his game. The move didn't stand out much, especially after the team lost so much up front.
Roslovic hit the ground running with the Hurricanes. He matched his goal total from last season in 12 games and sat with 12 goals through 20 contests. Roslovic led the team in goals for much of the season, but his production slowed. By the end of the season, Roslovic tied his career high with 22 goals, third-most on the team, and finished with 39 points, the sixth-most.
While he started the postseason in the lineup, Roslovic was in and out of the lineup during the Canes' playoff run. He was a healthy scratch during parts of all three series. In nine games, Roslovic had a goal and three assists. Like with Dmitry Orlov, I have theories about where Roslovic could end up when free agency begins. His goal-scoring abilities should make him a solid pick-up for any team.
1. Boston
After years of consistently solid seasons, the Boston Bruins were a shell of themselves this season. Maybe it was splitting one of the league's best goalie duos. Whatever it was, it wasn't pretty. The team did the unthinkable by trading Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers at the deadline. I'd say that worked out well for the Panthers.
Nowhere was their struggle more apparent than on offense. The Bruins scored the fifth-fewest goals in the league, despite having a Top 5 goal-scorer in David Pastrnak. How do you solve those issues? Probably by adding another goal-scorer. Outside of their top line, the Bruins don't have many certified snipers. Roslovic would be a worthwhile addition to the group at 5-on-5 and the power play.
2. Vancouver
The Vancouver Canucks were another team that struggled to find consistency last season. After winning the division in 2023-24, the Canucks fell out of the playoffs after a rocky season in the locker room and on the ice. Now, they're losing a valuable winger in Brock Boeser from a lineup that was already in the bottom ten in the league in scoring.
Vancouver would be a good landing spot because of Roslovic's versatility. Along with losing Boeser, the Canucks are likely losing center Pius Suter. Roslovic can slot into the third-line center spot or move around the Top 9 as a winger, giving the Canucks plenty of flexibility with their lineup. Better yet, he's not an expensive addition since Vancouver doesn't have a ton of cap space to work with.
3. Toronto
In case you missed it, the Toronto Maple Leafs have two of their Core 4 players heading toward free agency this season. Mitch Marner is the talk of the town, while John Tavares is also set to see what options are out there when the calendar changes to July. With uncertainty about where the Maple Leafs' roster is heading, Roslovic could slide right in.
While I can't speak to whether Roslovic's style fits Craig Berube's system, I think Roslovic would be perfect for Toronto's middle six. Assuming Tavares re-signs, Roslovic could sit on one of his wings, or he could join Scott Laughton on the third line. Roslovic won't provide the same scoring as Marner, and Toronto will be aggressive when replacing him, but Roslovic could be a good fallback option.