UFA Jack Roslovic, a 28-year-old forward, has reportedly turned down a contract offer from the Edmonton Oilers. This news comes as Roslovic remains one of the most notable unsigned free agents with the NHL season quickly approaching.
According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Oilers extended an offer to Roslovic earlier in the offseason, which the forward rejected. Intriguingly, Roslovic has since switched agents, moving from Claude Lemieux to Justin Duberman. This change in representation could suggest some level of dissatisfaction with how negotiations were proceeding.
Roslovic is coming off a season with the Carolina Hurricanes where he tallied 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 81 games. He also contributed four points in nine playoff games. Tying his career-high in goals, this performance has seemingly influenced Roslovic's expectations for his next contract. After playing in Carolina on a one-year, $2.8 million contract, Roslovic is reportedly seeking a deal with more term.
LeBrun notes that Roslovic is hoping to secure a contract that extends beyond a single year. While his previous agent, Claude Lemieux, secured him a two-year, $8 million deal ($4M AAV) in 2022 after a prior 22-goal season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, finding a team willing to commit to a multi-year deal at this stage of the offseason may prove challenging. With training camps underway and most teams having finalized their rosters, cap space is becoming increasingly scarce.
Despite the challenges, it is expected that Roslovic will find a team before the season begins next month. Throughout the summer, he has been linked to teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks. His scoring ability and versatility make him a valuable asset, and teams may still be looking to add forward depth.
Roslovic has played for four NHL teams since breaking into the league with the Winnipeg Jets in 2016. The Jets drafted Roslovic in the first round (25th overall) in 2015. He spent three seasons with Winnipeg before playing three seasons with his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets. In 2023-24, he split time between Columbus and the New York Rangers, before joining Carolina for the 2024-25 season. In 526 career games, Roslovic has accumulated 102 goals and 260 points.
