The Toronto Maple Leafs remain linked to free-agent center Jack Roslovic despite making few offseason moves since signing Nick Robertson. Roslovic scored 22 goals while averaging under 14 minutes a game and could slot into a middle-six role alongside John Tavares. Adding him would be complicated by roster composition and limited openings, as roughly ten forwards are likely guaranteed spots. Depth players including David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson will compete for two to three remaining roster spots. The Leafs would also need to navigate cap and lineup implications before completing a signing.
During a Bleacher Report broadcast, NHL insider Frank Seravalli didn't want to completely waive off the notion that the Maple Leafs could still land free agent center Jack Roslovic. The player and team were heavily linked when the Leafs were trying to fill some holes at the forward position, and after making some moves, the main thought was that they would be done until training camp.
In a vacuum, adding a center that is more than capable of being in a middle-six partnership with John Tavares and just scored 22 goals while not even averaging 14 minutes a game, is something that the Maple Leafs should be figuring out how to do. But, there are multiple hurdles that the Leafs would need to leap over to put pen to paper and bring Roslovic to Toronto.
First, it's about the amount of players on the roster. There are approximately 10 forwards who should certainly be guaranteed regular, full-time spots in the lineup. The rest of the group are headlined by borderline players like David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Bobby McMann, and newly signed Nick Robertson. Those four will be fighting tooth and nail to get one of the two or three available spots on the opening night roster.
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