Jack Roslovic has managed to rack up two 20-goal seasons in his most recent campaigns, a feat that defies how most players typically approach their age-30 years. This guy, a versatile forward who’s bounced around the league a bit, just signed a two-year deal worth $4 million with the Leafs, and honestly, it feels like they’re getting him at the absolute perfect time.
The Grind and The Roster Shuffle
This isn’t some fresh-faced rookie. Roslovic, who’s 29 (and turns 30 in January), has had quite the journey through the NHL. He rolled through the USNTDP alongside future stars like Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, hit the NCAA for a year, and then made his way to the NHL. After four years in Winnipeg, he was traded as an unsigned RFA to his hometown team, Columbus, as part of the Patrik Laine deal. That whole deal didn’t exactly pan out for everyone, but Roslovic himself had a good run for a while. He spent almost four years there, playing a solid, if not elite, game before getting dealt to the Rangers at the deadline. Then came one-year stints in Carolina and Edmonton before landing this two-year pact with the Leafs, carrying the same $4 million AAV he signed in Columbus back in 2023. Dude’s 6’1″, 198 lbs, can play C or RW, and was drafted 25th overall by the Jets in 2015. On the Leafs’ depth chart, he’s paid less than Colton Sissons, but more than any other forward not in their top-six.
The Secret to The Surge
So, what’s behind this late-career surge in goal-scoring? Roslovic has consistently pulled down top-six ice time, usually in the 15 to 17 minutes per game range. He’s not a Matthews-level workhorse, sure, but he’s also not that “pretend” top-sixer who gets left off the rotation at 13 minutes. In Edmonton last year, he was the fifth most used forward. Carolina was a bit rougher, with a deeper forward group pushing him to 10th most used, making it his least successful season. The Rangers used him as one of their choices for the number six spot, but he often saw less ice time than his linemates. NHL Edge stats clock him as a seriously fast skater with a very high number of speed bursts. Advanced stats show him with variable impacts on offense and “okay for a winger” defensive value. He also shows particularly good impacts on shot differential, transition, and helping create scoring chances for both himself and his teammates. The real kicker, though, is his shot: Moneypuck and HockeyViz show he’s got a good one with above-average finishing talent, often scoring over expected. Here’s the wild part: even with that talent, he only had three 20-goal seasons, with many more in the 10-12 goal range. The big reveal? Two of those 20-goal seasons are his most recent, which is just not how players usually age. He changed how he played. Up until 2023, he was a 10-12 Individual Corsi per 60 shooter in all-situations, a super low shot rate for any notable NHLer.
This isn’t your grandpa’s hockey player peaking early. Roslovic retooled his game, and it’s paying off big. The Leafs shelled out for him, banking on this new style sticking around. What’s going to happen now that he’s found a home for two years and clearly figured something out about his scoring touch? This is going to be fun to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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