Ex-Rangers forward signs 1-year contract with Oilers
Jack Roslovic, a forward who helped the New York Rangers get within two wins of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, has a new home after agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
The move ends Roslovic’s wait to join a new team after he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 – he was arguably the best UFA remaining on the market. The 28-year-old changed agents after going unsigned earlier in the summer and was skating in Columbus, waiting to join a new team. He signed late Wednesday and was not in the lineup for the Oilers’ season-opening 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.
The Rangers acquired Roslovic on March 8, 2024, sending a fourth-round pick in 2026 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We think he’s a real good player,” general manager Chris Drury said after making the deal.
In 19 regular-season games with New York after the trade, the 2015 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) by the Winnipeg Jets, had eight points (three goals, five assists). He also played in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games, finishing with eight points (two goals, six assists).
One of the assists came on Alexander Wennberg’s overtime winner in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. That goal gave the Rangers a 5-4 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, but they lost the next three games.
However, Roslovic averaged just 13:27 of ice time during his brief time on Broadway, and the Rangers didn’t re-sign him. He started out on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, and finished his Rangers tenure playing on the fourth line.
Roslovic inked a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes for 2024-25. He played 81 games with Carolina, matched his career high with 22 goals (largely because of a career-best 15.8 shooting percentage) and finished with 39 points. He was third on the ‘Canes with 37 even-strength points, averaging just 13:49 of ice time.
However, he played in just nine playoff games for Carolina, and finished with one goal and four points. The Hurricanes didn’t re-sign him — likely because he’s something of a liability defensively. Though his xGF was 50.28 percent last season, per Natural Stat Trick, the Hurricanes were outscored 55-46 with him on the ice at 5-on-5 and were out-chanced 205-173 in high-danger opportunities.
Roslovic has struggled at times with consistency during his career. He can bring fans out of their seats, but tends to overhandle the puck and turn it over — a big reason that he’s spent most of his career as a bottom-six forward.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said after the loss to the Flames that Edmonton was in touch with Roslovic dating back to the summer, and that talks picked up in recent days.
“(I told his agent) ‘We love the player, but we don’t have a whole lot of money to spend right now. So, if he wants to come here and kind of bet on himself and get a bit of a chance to play, we’d love to have him.’” Bowman said. “I think he was weighing his options and came to the decision that this is the place he wanted to be.”
Bowman didn’t say when Roslovic could make his Oilers debut; their next game is Saturday, when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Though Roslovic was skating on his own, he missed all of training camp and may need some time to get into game shape.
Roslovic has 260 points (102 goals, 158 assists) and is minus-37 in 526 regular-season NHL games. He has 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 45 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
