Jack Roslovic’s Oilers Deal Comes With an Unusual Guarantee
The Edmonton Oilers have added a new face to their roster in forward Jack Roslovic, signing the 28-year-old to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. While the deal itself is a short-term, cap-friendly agreement to bolster Edmonton's depth, it includes an unusual clause that provides Roslovic with a unique level of security.
Roslovic's contract contains a full no-move clause until November 1st. After that date, it converts to a partial no-trade clause, allowing Roslovic to submit a four-team trade list. However, the most notable aspect of the deal is that Roslovic cannot be waived or sent to the minor leagues without his consent.
This clause essentially guarantees that Roslovic will have the opportunity to prove his worth to the Oilers in the coming weeks. The team will need to make roster cuts to get down to the right number of contracts when the team is fully healthy. However, they can't send Roslovic down before November 1st unless he agrees. This means that the Oilers will have to either move a waiver-exempt player down with the plan of bringing them back up later or risk placing someone who requires waivers on the waiver wire.
The Oilers are hoping that Roslovic will be a valuable addition to the team and not a short-term fix. Coach Kris Knoblauch has expressed that they see Roslovic as a versatile player who can play both center and right wing, providing the team with added flexibility.
Roslovic's unusual contract structure suggests that he prioritized opportunity when choosing to sign with Edmonton. He reportedly accepted a cheaper deal to play for the Oilers. The team had been in talks with Roslovic and his agent since the summer.
Roslovic has played 526 career games for four different teams, including the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Carolina Hurricanes. Last season with the Hurricanes, he scored 22 goals and 17 assists in 81 games. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman believes that Roslovic could be "a really nice piece to add to our group right now".
