The Blue Jackets get their regular season started tomorrow night in Nashville, but the offseason rumors have not completely dried up.
Last night on TSN's Insider Trading, Chris Johnston brought the Blue Jackets up as a potential suitor for still unsigned forward Jack Roslovic. Is it possible that the team could bring back a familiar face?
Jack scored 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. In a summer that became pretty thin as far as unrestricted free agents, he had a chance to really cash in.
But, disappointed with the offers he was getting; he decided to bet on himself and wait for a better deal. By holding out on signing early, he overextended his market value and remains unsigned as the season gets under way.
He's since changed agents and continues to work out - mind you, in Columbus - as he awaits a reasonable enough offer to draw him into an NHL lineup this fall.
At this point, it feels like Jack is probably going to have to take an inexpensive one-year deal just to find a place to play. Of course, natural speculation would be a potential return to his hometown and former team.
I'm not as positive on that being a possibility. First, check out the words Chris used in his rumor blurb:
"A few teams that are already looking for forwards, the Minnesota Wild, his Columbus Blue Jackets down the road. ... I think it's only a matter of time before teams come calling."Chris Johnston on TSN's Insider Trading
This tells us that the Jackets have not seriously explored signing him to this point, but the insider himself is speculating that they could eventually show interest. At the moment, it sounds like Jack is waiting for an offer - any offer - to come along.
The verdict?
I just don't see it happening. While the Blue Jackets could look to add some depth, this isn't the kind of player I expect Don Waddell and Dean Evason to try to add to their lineup. These two have preferred to add size and physicality, and wouldn't be getting either of those traits here.
They also have Yegor Chinakhov on the roster, with no place to play him. Jack Roslovic is an older, more experienced guy who plays a similar style. And, I would argue that Chinakhov has more scoring upside. He just needs to find it.
Roslovic is a good player, but he may be better suited taking an inexpensive deal with a contending team that needs a placeholder or upgrade in their top-six.