"It Wasn't Fun": Roslovic Talks Hurdles Before Joining Oilers

Edmonton Oilers' newest addition, Jack Roslovic, has officially signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the team after a surprisingly long period as an unrestricted free agent. The 28-year-old forward is eager to join the Oilers, but his journey to Edmonton wasn't without its challenges.

"It wasn't fun," Roslovic admitted when asked about the free agency process. "There were definitely some hurdles to overcome." While he didn't elaborate on the specifics, it's clear that finding the right fit took longer than anticipated. Several teams showed interest in Roslovic, with some reportedly offering longer-term deals with higher annual values. However, those deals fell through, leading him back to the Oilers, who had previously expressed interest.

"We talked about it a couple of weeks ago — the type of player we'd look for around the trade deadline would be this type exactly,” said Oilers GM Stan Bowman. “He's available now, he's a free agent, and we can get him signed at a low amount. Instead of waiting to see what's available later, we think he could be a nice piece to our group right now".

Roslovic is coming off a solid season with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he matched his career-high of 22 goals and recorded 39 points in 81 games. Throughout his nine NHL seasons, which include stints with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers, Roslovic has accumulated 102 goals and 260 points in 526 regular-season games. He also brings playoff experience, with 17 points in 45 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Oilers are hoping Roslovic can provide much-needed secondary scoring and versatility. He is capable of playing both center and wing, which provides Head Coach Kris Knoblauch with options when constructing the lines. According to practice reports, Roslovic has been skating with the top lines.

While the team officially signed Roslovic on Wednesday, he is not expected to play in Saturday's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Knoblauch stated that Roslovic has been medically cleared, but he wants him to get a couple of practices in before putting him in a game.

To make room for Roslovic on the roster, the Oilers placed Jake Walman on injured reserve. More roster moves are anticipated as players return from injury. Mattias Janmark and Walman could be back as early as next week, while Zach Hyman is on long-term injured reserve and is expected to be out until at least next month. Darnell Nurse missed practice on Friday due to illness but is expected to be in the lineup against the Canucks.

Despite the initial challenges, Roslovic seems enthusiastic about joining the Oilers, who are looking to capitalize on their "win-now" window. The team's management is demonstrating a proactive approach by securing Roslovic, rather than waiting for potential trade deadline acquisitions.

Roslovic's signing also comes shortly after the Oilers inked Connor McDavid to a two-year, $25 million extension and Mattias Ekholm to a three-year, $12 million extension.