The Winnipeg Jets will report to training camp on Thursday and their unsigned restricted free agent forward Jack Roslovic will not be reporting for duty. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was not able to come to get Roslovic inked to a new contract.
On Wednesday, Roslovic’s agent Claude Lemieux (Yes, that Claude Lemieux, told the The Winnipeg Free Press that his client will sit at home in the U.S. while he awaits a trade out of Winnipeg or a fair and equitable contract offer.
While Cheveldayoff and Lemieux continue to play their game of “chicken…, Roslovic will continue to sit at home.
Roslovic, 23, had a career season in 2019-20 scoring 12 goals and 29 points yet the Jets were not compelled to re-sign him to a long-term contract extension. Roslovic, the 25th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, would likely have scored more had Paul Maurice played him on the power play.
Roslovic has a lot of value to offer to NHL clubs because he plays all three forward positions. Roslovic can play up and down the lineup on most clubs in the NHL. Winnipeg chose to play him in their bottom six forward group. Roslovic has great hands, can skate well and is likely miffed that he doesn’t get the cookies served to him on the power play by his head coach Paul Maurice.
The Jets seemingly have the opening night roster set and it does not include Roslovic in it. The Jets are a wagon down the center of the ice with Mark Scheifele, the recently acquired Paul Stastny, Adam Lowry and Nate Thompson. Jets are loaded at right wing with Blake Wheeler, Nik Ehlers, Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton. On the left side, the Jets feature Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Andrew Copp and Jansen Harkins.
The puck is now on Cheveldayoff’s proverbial stick. The Jets GM can force Roslovic to sit at home and think longer and harder about accepting the team-tendered qualifying offer given to him during the offseason. Cheveldayoff can also tear up the qualifying offer and write up an offer that is more to the liking of Roslovic and Lemieux.
Or, Cheveldayoff can do the kid a solid and move him.
My guess is that Cheveldayoff will be trading Roslovic to another NHL club in a package that will net the Jets the top, four right shot defenseman it has so badly needed since the departures of Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still in progress, it will be difficult for Roslovic to sign a new deal with the Jets and then get himself quickly into Winnipeg’s training camp. Were Roslovic to sign a new contract with the Jets this weekend, he would need to quarantine for 7-10 days upon arrival to The Peg. Such a situation would force the young American forward to miss the majority of Jets training camp. The Jets are scheduled to open the season at home on Thursday, January 14 against the Calgary Flames. The Jets then travel to Ontario for a three-game road trip opening against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, January 18 before playing a pair of games against the Ottawa Senators.
There will be several teams to inquire with Cheveldayoff about trading for Roslovic. One of the teams being the Buffalo Sabres. Last season, I reported Roslovic’s name being linked to the Sabres with then GM Jason Botterill. who at the time had a surplus of NHL defensemen on his roster. Fast forward to day, the start of training camp in Buffalo, new Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has a dozen defensemen reporting to training camp in Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Henri Jokiharju, Jake McCabe, Brandon Montour and Colin Miller. In the offseason, Adams signed veteran puck movers Matt Irwin and Brandon Davidson to add depth to his D corps. Prospects making at push to make the roster or taxi squad include Will Borgen, Jacob Bryson, Casey Fitzgerald, and Mattias Samuelsson.
For years, the Jets have coveted Rasmus Ristolainen. The Sabres are not keen on trading the feisty Finn just yet. However, veteran puck mover Colin Miller would provide suitable trade currency to complete a trade transaction for Jack Roslovic.
Personally, I have liked Roslovic's game since his days playing for Team USA at the World Juniors in 2016. I would trade for him and sign him to a low risk, one year "show me" contract. He and his agent likely won's agree to a trade that would see him parked on a team's taxi squad.
On the Sabres roster this season, I see Roslovic as a third line winger playing next to his former Winnipeg teammate Cody Eakin and rookie Dylan Cozens. I can also see Roslovic centering Buffalo's fourth line with Curtis Lazar and Zemgus Girgensons. I would also use Roslovic on the second unit power play as well as on the penalty kill.