Jack Roslovic’s Future in Edmonton: A Cautionary Tale or a Bet Worth Making?
Jack Roslovic’s journey to Edmonton wasn’t your typical free agency signing. Despite a solid 22-goal campaign with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, the 29-year-old forward found himself without a contract deep into the offseason.
He had suitors, no doubt, but Roslovic was holding out for term-something longer than the short-term offers that came his way. One such offer reportedly came from the Oilers, and at the time, he passed.
Fast forward to opening night of the 2025-26 season. While the Oilers were facing off against the Flames, news dropped: Roslovic had signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Edmonton.
A classic prove-it contract. For Roslovic, it was about opportunity-one year to show he’s worth a bigger payday.
For the Oilers, it was a low-risk, high-upside bet on a skilled forward who could potentially plug a top-six hole.
Early returns? Pretty promising.
Through his first 23 games, Roslovic was one of the few bright spots on a team that was still trying to find its footing. He tallied 10 goals and 18 points, showing the kind of offensive consistency that’s been hard to come by in Edmonton’s supporting cast behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
But then came the groin injury in late November, and that changed everything.
Roslovic missed over a month of action, and since returning, he hasn’t looked like the same player. In 20 games post-injury, he’s scored just four goals-without a single assist.
That brings his season totals to 15 goals and 23 points in 43 games. Not awful, but certainly a step back from the pace he was on before the injury.
Still, there’s interest in keeping him around. Oilers insider Bob Stauffer recently floated the idea of a four-year extension in the $4 million per year range. That’s a significant raise and commitment for a player who hasn’t consistently produced at that level throughout his career.
Let’s unpack that.
A Tempting Option, But a Risky One
It’s no secret the Oilers have struggled to find reliable top-six wingers. That’s part of why Roslovic looked like such a smart pickup in the first place.
With Evander Kane, Corey Perry, and Connor Brown all moving on last offseason, Edmonton needed someone to step up. Roslovic did-briefly.
But here’s the catch: consistency has never really been Roslovic’s calling card. Since being drafted 25th overall in 2015, he’s only cracked the 20-goal and 40-point marks twice.
That’s not the kind of track record that screams “lock him up long-term.” The hot start this season was encouraging, but it also might’ve been just that-a hot streak.
And let’s not forget how this deal came together. Roslovic didn’t sign until after the season had already started.
That’s a pretty clear signal that teams around the league were hesitant to commit, even on a short-term basis. The Oilers themselves initially passed before circling back when the price dropped.
So while a four-year deal might sound appealing-especially if the Oilers believe he can recapture that early-season form-it’s not without risk. Edmonton’s cap situation is tight, and they’ve already been burned by a similar move.
A Lesson from the Past
The Trent Frederic extension is still fresh in everyone’s mind. After a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2025, the Oilers handed Frederic an eight-year deal that raised more than a few eyebrows.
So far, it’s been a disaster. Just three points in 53 games this season.
That’s the kind of deal that can hamstring a team trying to stay competitive in the McDavid-Draisaitl window.
If the Oilers aren’t careful, they could find themselves in a similar spot with Roslovic. The upside is there-he’s shown flashes of being a legitimate top-six contributor.
But the history says otherwise. And with the team already navigating cap constraints and trying to build a contender around two generational stars, every dollar matters.
The Smart Play? Wait and See
There’s still time. If Roslovic gets back to the level he was playing at before the injury, then maybe a multi-year extension makes sense.
But if the current trend continues, the Oilers can walk away without any long-term damage. That’s the beauty of a one-year deal.
For now, the best move is patience. Let the season play out.
See if Roslovic can find his rhythm again. If he does, great-he’ll have earned that next contract.
If not, the Oilers can pivot and use that cap space elsewhere.
In a league where every contract counts, Edmonton can’t afford another misstep. Roslovic has shown he can be part of the solution.
But whether he’s a long-term piece? That’s still very much up in the air.