Jack Roslovic is giving Toronto exactly what it hoped for, and maybe a little extra. Since leaving the Oilers, he has put up 10 points in 12 games while skating alongside Matthews, and he’s doing it with more ice time than he got in Edmonton. Roslovic has said his time with the Oilers taught him plenty about work ethic and culture, and the Leafs are now reaping the benefits.
The real test, though, is still ahead. The question hanging over Roslovic is whether that production holds when the games get tighter in the playoffs. Coaches have not always trusted him in postseason action, so if he can carry this form into spring, Toronto will have found a bargain.
Connor McDavid, meanwhile, is piling up numbers that sound made up. He has 31 points in 10 games, with eight goals and 23 assists, and he’s tracking toward about 260 points. He also became only the second player ever, after Mario Lemieux, to post three five-point games in the first 10 games of a season.
Zach Hyman called what McDavid is doing “video game” territory and said nobody thought anyone could do this stuff, even if he expects the pace won’t last. Hyman also pointed out that Leon Draisaitl is at a pace of 176 points, but McDavid is still well ahead of everybody else. Hyman said McDavid remains humble and is focused on the team’s 8-1-1 start, while Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna said he expects five points from him every night.
There is also a different kind of trade talk making the rounds around the league. Elliotte Friedman said he was stunned when a few NHL players privately told him teams should have more say when a player asks for a trade. That caught him off guard because players usually defend their own control over where they go.
The discussion is surfacing more in dressing rooms, especially after the Hellebuyck and Larkin situations. Larkin has expanded his list of acceptable teams to 10 and still has not been moved, while Brad Marchand has pushed back on limiting how players use their no-trade clauses. Gary Bettman also suggested the NHL may need to speak with the NHLPA about the issue, noting those clauses were designed to protect players, not to let them handpick new teams.
In Other News...
Jack Roslovic Returns To Edmonton With Oilers Fans Watching One Thing
Jack Roslovic has settled in quickly with the Toronto Maple Leafs, picking up four goals and 10 points in his first 10 games after signing a two-year deal. The former Blue Jackets, Rangers and Oilers forward is already showing the kind of pace Toronto hoped for, and he has come through against familiar opponents too, with a goal and three points against Columbus and an assist against New York.
Now Roslovic is headed back to Edmonton, where the reception will be tied as much to memory as to the box score. He has already talked about facing old teams and had plenty of praise for Connor McDavids skill and work ethic, which only adds to the intrigue around a return trip that figures to draw attention from Oilers fans watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Hyman Sparked An Oilers Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Zach Hyman had one of those moments that gets replayed long after the final horn, and not just because of what it meant in the game. In Edmontons high-scoring win over Carolina, the Oilers winger drew a penalty and then appeared to wink afterward, a split-second reaction that quickly became a talking point for fans who were already dissecting every whistle in a tight, emotional matchup.
The debate has lingered because the call came in a game where every small edge mattered, and Hymans manner after the whistle left plenty of room for interpretation. For an Oilers team that thrives on intensity and hates giving opponents any foothold, the whole sequence became less about one minor penalty and more about how fine the line can be between selling a call and crossing into embellishment. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get A Tough Test From Torontos Hottest New Decision
The Oilers are about to get a look at a different kind of challenge in Torontos crease, with Anthony Stolarz set to start in the upcoming matchup in Edmonton. Jim Hiller announced the decision, and Sergei Bobrovsky will back him up as the Maple Leafs bring a fresh look to one of the games key spots.
Toronto is also shuffling its blue line, with Dakota Mermis set to make his season debut because of injuries on defense. For Edmonton, that means another opponent adjusting on the fly, and another chance to test how well the Oilers can press an advantage against a lineup that is not at full strength. [Read more 🡒]