Rangers castoff continues to light lamp for division rival
Jack Roslovic scored nine goals in 59 games combined for the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets last season. Cast aside by the Rangers, Roslovic reignited his career, scoring nine goals in the first 12 games this season for their Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old forward was at it again Thursday night, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist in Carolina’s 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. So, that’s six goals in his past five games, including another two-goal outing against the Boston Bruins on Halloween.
“I don’t know what’s going on there,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said with a laugh postgame Thursday. “He’s got a great release … and guys are finding him and he’s making the best of it.”
Rangers fans may want to cover their ears for this next part. Each of Roslovic’s nine goals is at even strength this season. Remember, the Rangers traded for him ahead of the deadline last season to try and help get Mika Zibanejad going 5v5. That didn’t quite pan out. Yet here he is, leading the Hurricanes in goal scoring and crushing it at even strength.
It doesn’t hurt that he skates on a line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov these days. But is that really much more different than being on a line with Zibanejad and Chris Kreider?
For some reason, the chemistry Roslovic couldn’t find in New York, he’s discovered in Carolina.
“Obviously, two unbelievable players and I’m grateful to be out there playing with those guys and trying to bring an extra weapon, get open and be available for them when they need to make a nice play,” Roslovic said Thursday.
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Jack Roslovic struggled with Rangers, thriving with Hurricanes
Roslovic is notoriously streaky. But this is his best run offensively since he scored 22 goals for the Blue Jackets in 2021-22, the only time he’s eclipsed 20 goals in the NHL. He followed that up with 11 goals the following season and then nine in 2023-24.
After being traded to the Rangers, Roslovic scored three goals in 19 games, scratched for one along the way. He had eight points, all but one at even strength.
Roslovic had a five-game point streak (two goals, three assists) to start the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Rangers winning each game. He had three assists in the final 11 games of the postseason, eventually dropping to the third then fourth line in the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers.
The Rangers made no move to sign him in the offseason. In fact, there was hardly any market at all for him. But the Hurricanes handed him a one-year, $2.8 million contract, giving Roslovic the opportunity to land a bigger deal next summer at the age of 28.
So far, so good with that decision.
Despite losing key free agents Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, the Hurricanes (10-2-0) are tied for first in the Metro with the New Jersey Devils, who’ve played four more games. Their points percentage of .833 is tops in the Eastern Conference and second to the Winnipeg Jets (.929) in the NHL.
In the midst of a 3-3-0 stretch, the Rangers (8-3-1) are fourth in the division with 17 points.
Let’s see if Roslovic remains on his heater when the Rangers and Hurricanes meets for the first time this season, Nov. 27 in Raleigh.
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