The Edmonton Oilers’ newest addition, Jack Roslovic, made his debut last game against the New York Rangers, playing 13:10 minutes. He didn’t register any points or record a shot on goal, but there were subtle little plays to like in his first game since last May.

He started on the second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie, and by the third period, he was playing with Leon Draisaitl and ‘Nuge’, making soft little passes on a few occasions that led to scoring chances, and according to Natural Stat Trick, the trio posted a 3-1 edge in scoring chances in just under five minutes together.

It’s very early, but the one-game sample size so far shows there’s plenty to like with Roslovic, who, as Zach Laing reported, has a full no-movement clause in his contract that turns into a four-team trade list on November 1st — which is also when Zach Hyman is eligible to return to the lineup from long-term injured reserve.

Having said that, the next stretch could serve as a one-month trial to see if things work out for Roslovic in Oil Country, but if not, the team could seek a trade. For the sake of this piece, though, let’s assume he sticks around for the full campaign, and we’ll take a look below at what the season could hold for him.

As one of the oldest teams in the league last season, the Oilers at times appeared slower than in previous years, but Roslovic’s addition helps with that. When asked what he brings to the team, the former first-round draft pick said, “Speed, scoring.” He added, “Try to be a buzzsaw out there, make plays.”

Last regular season, Roslovic’s top speed maxed out at 22.89 MPH, according to NHL Edge data, putting him in the 80th percentile. The year prior, he recorded 174 speed bursts above 20 MPH, ranking in the 96th percentile among all skaters. That said, when you see those speedy numbers, it’s natural to wonder what a player with wheels like that might do alongside one of, if not the, best skaters in the league, Connor McDavid, which is a combination head coach Kris Knoblauch mixed in the blender for one shift in the third period last game against the Rangers.

Moreover, not only will he inject speed into the Oilers’ lineup, which we saw a glimpse of last game, but he’ll also add a layer of skill, and he’s no stranger to playing alongside talented players. Last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, the two forwards he skated most with were Sebastian Aho, who led the team with 74 points, and Andrei Svechnikov, who finished fourth with 48 points. In the process, the 28-year-old matched a career-high by scoring 22 goals, and in reviewing all of his tallies from last season, a few things stand out about how he scores goals.

For starters, the new Oiler has a very quick release, beating goaltenders clean on several occasions without even dusting the puck off. He can also score from a distance while streaking down the wing and is effective in front of the net, with four of his goals coming off rebounds and a couple from nice moves in tight. Also, of his 22 tallies from last season, just one came on the power play, highlighting the additional 5v5 firepower he brings to the Oilers.

That said, projecting a point total for Roslovic this upcoming season gets tricky when you take the various factors into account.

First off, he missed an entire training camp and the preseason games. Yes, he’s been skating, but it’s nothing like getting actual game-like reps to get the legs and lungs going. Also, while he scored 22 regular-season goals last year, it’s not necessarily a given that he’ll hit the 20-goal mark again. For one, his production depends on where he plays in the lineup, which, given the way the lines were mixed up last game against New York, is anyone’s guess. It’s also worth noting that his 15.8% shooting percentage from last season may be an outlier, considering he shot 9.7%, 7%, 7.7%, and 8.9% in the previous seasons, with a career average of 12%.

Considering that, it’s reasonable to think he may have slightly overachieved last season. Yet, using his 12% career shooting percentage and the 139 shots he took last season, that equates to roughly 17 goals — a mark I feel the 28-year-old will at least reach if he plays a full season with the Oilers in 2025-26. He’s also recorded over 15 assists in seven of his eight NHL seasons.

That said, Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson’s low point totals last season have me taking a conservative approach, but let’s say it takes Roslovic a few games to get into the swing of things — I’ll project that he produces 17 helpers this season along with 17 goals, which would be a 34-point campaign for him. At $1.5 million per season, that’s pretty darn good value. Of course, that point total could skyrocket if he finds chemistry with, say, McDavid or Draisaitl, whom, again, he played just under five minutes with last game against the Rangers, with the scoring chances 3-1 in their favour.

That said, while predicting regular-season points is fun, the real focus for the Oilers over the past few seasons has been success in the playoffs. For Roslovic, a concern may be that he doesn’t raise his battle level when the stakes are higher.

Last season with the Hurricanes, Roslovic was a healthy scratch in six of the team’s 15 playoff games, which speaks volumes considering the 28-year-old was one of, if not the team’s best, 5v5 producers in the regular season.

Additionally, his NHL Edge metrics suggest that he may not have been giving full effort in last year’s playoffs. In the regular season, his top skating speed was clocked at 22.89 MPH, but it dropped to 21.54 MPH in the postseason, which ranked in the 50th percentile in the NHL. His hardest shot went from 91.4 MPH in the regular season to 74.04 MPH in the playoffs, and overall, his goal scoring saw a big decline, with just one goal in nine playoff games. Adding to that, The Athletic mentioned that his work ethic dipped later in the year, with a scout saying:

On that note, when the competition ramps up later this season, the Oilers, who are in redemption mode after losing to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final two seasons in a row, can’t afford to have any passengers. Regular-season success is fine and dandy, but they need players to deliver when it matters most.

However, what’s encouraging for the Columbus, Ohio, native this season is that he should be highly motivated on his one-year deal. For the second straight year, he’s signed for less than his previous contract, and I’d imagine he doesn’t want that trend to continue — a strong regular season and a solid playoff outing could lead to a bigger payday. He’s also in a new environment with different leaders. With two of the best players in the world, McDavid and Draisaitl giving everything they have night after night in the playoffs, that kind of intensity tends to spread through the lineup, hopefully rubbing off on Roslovic.

Nevertheless, with Roslovic, the Oilers are gaining speed and skill up front — something you can never have too much of. If he scores around 20 goals, the $1.5 million-a-season cost is money well spent and at the very least, he brings some healthy internal competition for the time being.