The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a relatively quiet offseason in terms of additions, but could be close to signing an impact forward.
Toronto has been linked to signing Carolina Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic. He would be a good middle-six option for the Maple Leafs. NHL insider James Mirtle of The Athletic believes the ball is in Toronto’s court if they are going to sign Roslovic.
“One player the Leafs have been connected to the past few days is Jack Roslovic. Another offense-focused winger who can play a little center,” Mirtle wrote. “He scored 22 goals for Carolina last year. But also fell out of favor as the season wore on in part due to his defensive lapses and misplays with the puck. Leading to games as a healthy scratch in the playoffs.
“I think this one is roughly 50-50 right now. But it sounds like the ball is in the Leafs’ court here, in that he’s interested in the opportunity,” Mirtle added. “And I don’t think it would cost a lot, in terms of dollars or term.”
Roslovic is projected to sign a deal in the neighborhood of $2.6-$2.9 million, according to Mirtle. Roslovic can be a second or third-line winger who can also play center in certain situations if needed.
The former first-round pick recorded 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 81 games last season. In his NHL career, he’s skated in 526 games, recording 102 goals and 158 assists for 260 points. He would add some secondary scoring to the Maple Leafs’ roster.
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If Toronto does end up signing Roslovic, Mirtle believes he would fit in on the third line.
The insider believes signing Roslovic could also lead to some trades as it would make some Maple Leafs players expendable.
“I could see it making sense as another option to give them offense down the lineup. Instead of the Steven Lorentz-David Kämpf-Calle Järnkrok-Michael Pezzetta no-goal crew,” Mirtle wrote. “Where it could especially make sense is if GM Brad Treliving can subtract someone such as Kämpf’s $2.4 million cap hit and earmark a big chunk of that for Roslovic.
“That would still leave them with plenty of cap wiggle room to add a bigger difference maker to play with Matthews at some point and still inject a few more goals and playmaking on the third or fourth line,” Mirtle added. “If you can, at some point, put Maccelli and someone like Roslovic on the third line, for example, you can see a way they get far more scoring from their top nine and attempt to replace some of Marner’s impact down the lineup.”
Roslovic wouldn’t be a top-line forward like Marner was. But he would add some more secondary scoring, which has been an issue for the Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs Have Cap Space
Toronto’s offense has been about adding more depth in trading for Mattias Maccelli and Nic Roy.
However, the Maple Leafs still have cap space, and general manager Brad Treliving is open to spending it.
“We would’ve liked to use that earlier today. But if there’s not the right fit to use it on, we will take the flexibility,” Treliving said on July 1.
The Maple Leafs have just over $4.9 million in cap space.
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