Why The Maple Leafs Shouldn't Target Jack Roslovic After Other Free Agency Moves

Nick Barden

Jul 20, 2025

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Nick Barden

Jul 20, 2025

Partner

The Toronto Maple Leafs have enough depth players.

Earlier this summer, following the opening of free agency, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wondered whether Jack Roslovic could be a fit with the Maple Leafs. He had fit the mould as a forward for Toronto, plus he played with Auston Matthews in the US National Development Program.

"It makes sense to me because he has a history with Auston Matthews,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts. "They played together at the US National Development Team, so I could see this connection. Roslovic is also a right-hand shot. He is a veteran. He’s been around a long time. Matthews obviously knows him. I’m curious to see if that happens."

After the acquisition of Dakota Joshua, though, the Maple Leafs should officially be out of the Roslovic sweepstakes. As it stands right now, Toronto has replaced Marner's near $11 million cap hit with players like Joshua ($3.25 million), Matias Maccelli ($3.425 million), Nicolas Roy ($3 million), and Michael Pazzetta ($812,500).

Toronto was abuzz with Coldplay's four recent concerts at the new Rogers Stadium, but for Maple Leafs fans, an extra layer of excitement came courtesy of defenseman Conor Timmins. Earlier this week, Timmins, now with the Buffalo Sabres but clearly still close with his former teammates, shared photos on Instagram of himself, Bobby McMann, and Joseph Woll soaking in one of the shows. Timmins even playfully dubbed the newly created venue 'Middle Of Nowhere' in his post.

thehockeynews.comConor Timmins Shares Photos Attending Coldplay Concert In Toronto With Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann And Joseph WollToronto was abuzz with Coldplay's four recent concerts at the new Rogers Stadium, but for Maple Leafs fans, an extra layer of excitement came courtesy of defenseman Conor Timmins. Earlier this week, Timmins, now with the Buffalo Sabres but clearly still close with his former teammates, shared photos on Instagram of himself, Bobby McMann, and Joseph Woll soaking in one of the shows. Timmins even playfully dubbed the newly created venue 'Middle Of Nowhere' in his post.

All together, the four players' combined cap hit of $10,483,500 is $419,500 less than what Marner made with the Maple Leafs last season. And as it currently stands, Toronto's forward lines could look like this on opening night in October:

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Max DomiMatias Maccelli - John Tavares - William NylanderBobby McMann - Nicolas Roy - Dakota JoshuaSteven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Jarnkrok

I still believe the Maple Leafs need another top-six forward to supplement Knies and Matthews. They're not going to find someone like Marner, but Domi could suffice entering the regular season, if Toronto GM Brad Treliving can't find a trade partner before then.

When hockey players aren't spending time on vacation or in the gym during the summer, they are almost certain to find themselves on the golf course. William Nylander and a pair of former Leafs recently hit the links, and it looks like William’s brother Alex took to his Instagram account to celebrate draining an albatross. For those golf-illiterate, an albatross is when you score three shots under par on a single hole.

thehockeynews.comAlex Nylander Scores Albatross, Shares Golf Photo With Maple Leafs' William NylanderWhen hockey players aren't spending time on vacation or in the gym during the summer, they are almost certain to find themselves on the golf course. William Nylander and a pair of former Leafs recently hit the links, and it looks like William’s brother Alex took to his Instagram account to celebrate draining an albatross. For those golf-illiterate, an albatross is when you score three shots under par on a single hole.

Signing Roslovic—who tied a career-high for goals last season with 22 in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes—wouldn't make sense from Toronto's point of view. I say that because you have players like McMann, Roy, Maccelli, Joshua, and Laughton, who've all either been close to or have scored 20 goals in a season before.

Don't forget that Roslovic was a healthy scratch in the playoffs for Carolina this past spring. Maybe he doesn't fit the DNA that the Maple Leafs are looking for when it comes to playoff performers.

Toronto could ship out contracts like David Kampf ($2.4 million) and Jarnkrok ($2.1 million). Ridding themselves of those two contracts gives the Maple Leafs an extra $4.5 million to play with, either for the rest of the summer or in-season.

That'd give them almost $7.5 million in cap space, with the nearly $3 million they have now, according to PuckPedia.com. It'd be enough for them to go out and acquire a top-six forward, which I believe they need.

Most of the Toronto Maple Leafs' summer additions officially have numbers with their new club.

thehockeynews.comMaple Leafs Reveal Jersey Numbers For Newly Acquired PlayersMost of the Toronto Maple Leafs' summer additions officially have numbers with their new club.

After all, there have been talks between the Vancouver Canucks and Roslovic's camp, according to Rick Dhaliwal. The Maple Leafs don't need another $3 million player. They need someone who can aid Knies and Matthews, which I believe will be found through the trade market.

(Top photo of Roslovic: Marc DesRosiers / Imagn Images)