A Two-Year Contract Is A Win-Win For Both Jack Roslovic And The Columbus Blue Jackets

By Dan Dukart on June 9, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Jack Roslovic corrals the puck against Brandon Hagel
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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On Tuesday, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic signed a two-year contract through 2023-24

The Columbus native, 25, impressed in the second half of the 2021-22 season after Boone Jenner went down with an injury. Roslovic surged, flashing his potential and posting 14-11-25 in the final 32 games of the regular season, including 12-7-19 in 24 games after Jenner's injury.

It's possible that this small stretch of hockey allowed Roslovic to sign this contract, which will pay him $4M per season. Before that hot-streak, the pending RFA would have likely been a candidate for a qualifying offer, which could have meant a murkier future with the club. 

Instead, both the Blue Jackets and Roslovic are happy to sign a deal that, paradoxically, expires with him set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA).

For the Blue Jackets, committing long-term to a player that has still struggled with consistency didn't make sense. Maintaining long-term cap flexibility was paramount, and the Blue Jackets remain one of the few teams in the NHL who truly lack a regrettable contract on their roster. From an on-ice standpoint, while Roslovic was great down the stretch, there are still genuine questions about the player. On a playoff-contending team, is he a center? If so, is he a top-six center? Remember, this is a player who has scored 0-5-5 in 20 career playoff games. 

For Roslovic, the other side of the coin applies, too. Why lock yourself into a long-term contract if the best is yet to come? When Roslovic does hit UFA, he'll be a 27-year-old, in his prime player that could ring the bell on a contract that pays well over the current $4M AAV. Obviously, that's a gamble for him, but it's a reasonable argument. If the last half of the 2021-22 season is a sign of things to come, a $4M AAV is less than he would be able to earn at his best. 

This signing gives plenty of flexibility to both player and team alike. If the Blue Jackets have a surplus of forwards, which is certainly in the realm of possibility, they would be able to theoretically move on from Roslovic's reasonable (in terms of both cap hit and length) salary. If Roslovic plays himself into a new contract with the Blue Jackets, it's because he will have earned it, which bodes well for both him and the prospects of the organization. And if Rosloivc simply is on the verged of getting pushed out of the lineup in lieu of players like Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko, and/or whoever they select with the upcoming #6/#12 picks in the NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets can simply let him walk in free agency.  

A smart contract for the Blue Jackets, and a sensible bet for Roslovic.

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