The Blue Jackets believe in Jack Roslovic.
After a career-best season with 22 goals and 45 points in 81 games, the Columbus-born center entered restricted free agency this summer. GM Jarmo Kekalainen and his hockey operations staff seemed pleased with his progress under Brad Larsen, and proclaimed Roslovic part of their team moving forward.
Roslovic signed a new two-year contract on Tuesday worth a total of $8 million ($4 million AAV per season). The deal takes Roslovic to unrestricted free agent status at its conclusion, following the 2023-24 season.
"Jack is an offensively gifted player with great speed and vision who has increased his production each season during his NHL career," Kekalainen in a statement. "He has made great strides in his all-around game, especially during this past season, and we are very pleased that he will continue to be an important part of our team as we move forward."
Roslovic was a fits-and-starts player under John Tortorella, but gradually worked his way up Larsen's depth chart this season and earned a larger role – especially with the Blue Jackets' lack of depth in the middle. In 81 games, Roslovic averaged 14:17 of ice time and had 10 multi-point games in 2021-22, his sixth NHL season.
He has also set new single-season career highs in goals, assists and points in each of his five NHL campaigns. Roslovic finished this past season with six-game points streak from April 17-28 (five goals, two assists) – tied for the longest streak of his career – and set a new Blue Jackets record for most goals and points (tied) in the month of April with 10-3-13 in 14 games.
