Did the Edmonton Oilers miss out on Jack Roslovic?

As NHL training camps and preseason are well underway, an early situation to review on the Edmonton Oilers roster involves a depth forward. Jack Roslovic is currently an unrestricted free agent, still seeking a new NHL team to sign with. There have been rumours floating around that Roslovic apparently turned down an opportunity to join the Edmonton Oilers. Was this a huge loss for the Oilers’ roster?

Let’s take a look at what the Oilers missed out on in the depth forward.

What Roslovic would bring to the lineup

Roslovic is a solid two-way forward who brings some speed to whatever lineup he is in. He is usually playing on the second or third line and earns valuable penalty kill time. Last season, he was a part of the successful Carolina Hurricanes team that lost in the Eastern Conference Final once again. Roslovic had one of his best goal-scoring seasons in his career. He tied his career high of 22 goals and had four points in nine playoff games. His contract ended after the playoffs, and he currently remains as one of the top remaining UFAs available.

Looking at what Roslovic has to offer, he could have been a valuable asset for the Oilers. Roslovic would allow more flexibility in the Oilers’ lineup, especially because he is a centreman. If the Oilers run Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line, the remaining centres include Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique, and Noah Philip. Having Roslovic as a third-line centre would be a perfect fit for this lineup. He is an upgrade from Henrique, who has certainly seen better days. If things did not work out at centre, Roslovic could easily slide over to the wing on a middle-six line. The 28-year-old could also be a replacement for Connor Brown on the penalty kill, as he brings the same level of speed to the team.

It was recently announced that forward Vasily Podkolzin will be taking a personal leave from the Oilers. With this happening, should the Oilers take another run at Roslovic? Or should they give the role to someone from the AHL?

Contract talks

The fact that Roslovic remains a UFA gives off the vibe that he wants a good amount of money and term. Players like him can be extremely valuable, and he certainly has not accepted anything less than what he desires. The problem is, a team like the Oilers cannot afford to hand out a long-term deal to a third-line player. They may be in for a stressful offseason next year as McDavid, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, and Stuart Skinner are currently set to become UFAs. With this in mind, Stan Bowman must keep as much cap space available for next summer.

If the Oilers were to go out and sign Jack Roslovic, it would have to be a short-term deal. It is extremely unlikely because the Oilers almost have no cap space available. However, if Roslovic remains unsigned as the season begins, the Oilers could try to make a trade and create some cap space. Henrique would be a prime option to trade, but his contract includes a no-movement clause. At this point, the Oilers are not the favourite to land Roslovic, who may have missed out on a great opportunity.

Forward depth uncertainties

There are plenty of forward uncertainties for the Oilers going into the season. As mentioned before, Podkolzin has taken a personal leave from the team, and Zach Hyman is injured until early November. This leaves a depth spot open along with a spot on the top line. These are not the only uncertainties in the lineup. The Oilers have brought in new players like Andrew Mangiapane, Isaac Howard, and David Tomsek, who will be fighting for top-six minutes. Depth players from last season, like Trent Frederic and Matthew Savoie, are also unsure of where they will start out. All of these guys need to find their place with the team very soon. As of right now, things just seem unorganized in the Oilers’ forward core.

With the lineup uncertainties in mind, acquiring Jack Roslovic may not be a great move. He would add even more uncertainty to begin the season. Yes, he could fit in well and become an established piece in the lineup, but that could take a while. With Hyman out, Roslovic could arguably be the top right winger on the Oilers roster. Guys like Frederic and Savoie could play lower in the lineup and not have as much pressure.

The depth guys will have the remainder of the preseason to determine who will solidify a spot in the lineup. It will be interesting to see how Kris Knoblauch will adjust when the season gets underway, as he could be without two impactful forwards. Do you think the Oilers should take another run at Roslovic?

The Oilers’ preseason continues Sunday night when they host the Vancouver Canucks.

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