Breakout Players – 2018-19: Jack Roslovic

Breakout Players – 2018-19: Jack Roslovic

(Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images)

There are three things certain in life: death, taxes, and the Winnipeg Jets hitting on their first-round picks. Following the success of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey, Patrick Laine, and Kyle Connor, next in line seems to be Jack Roslovic, a 21-year-old center who averaged over a point per game in the AHL. The 25th overall pick in 2015 had a strong performance with the big club when called up and could very well get a permanent spot in the top-6 next season with the free agency departure of Paul Stastny.

In the AHL, Roslovic was one of the best forwards in the league. When looking at his per-20 numbers at even-strength, he ranked in the top 15 league-wide in scoring chance-generating plays (11th), possession-driving plays (4th), controlled entries (5th) and goals (4th), while his 1.09 points per game were 5th in the AHL (min. 30 games).

Stastny’s move to Vegas opens up the 2nd line center spot between Ehlers and Laine. As of now, it seems the role will fall to either Roslovic or Bryan Little, who filled the spot prior to the acquisition of Stastny. Little is the safer option, with more experience both in the league and in the Jets’ system, which gives him a high floor. However, he has averaged only 44 points over the last three seasons and will turn 31 before the end of 2018, so his ceiling seems to be lower than Roslovic’s.

Roslovic showed flashes of his upside when called up in the second half of the year. In his 31 games with the Jets, he scored 14 points while playing around 12 minutes a night. He ranked top 20 in the league in completed passes to the slot per 20 at even strength, which trailed only Mark Scheifele on the team. He even paced the team in forecheck scoring chances, while ranking 4th in scoring chance generating plays and goals, all per 20. In fact, he was already outperforming Bryan Little in several offensive areas during his first taste of NHL action.

Offensively, Little’s edge is in scoring chances on net, but it didn’t lead to more goals per-20. He did have more points per game (0.52) than Roslovic (0.45), although it’s notable that Little was on the ice for 2:11 on the power play per game, over a minute more than Roslovic (1:10). Little is more about defense than offense, as evidenced by his edge in defensive plays and in the faceoff circle, which actually helps Roslovic’s case to win the 2nd line role. The Jets can use Little in a more defensive role on the 3rd line, where his defense and faceoff skills could shine, while Roslovic’s offensive game would mesh better with skilled players like Ehlers and Laine.

With a potential top 6 role on last year’s 2nd ranked offense within his reach, Roslovic could break out this season by taking Stastny’s vacated spot for a fraction of the price. And, at only 21, he could also be the long-term option behind Scheifele, something neither Stastny (32) nor Little (30) will be.