Jack Roslovic believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are “ready to win” despite coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
The 29-year-old forward from Columbus, Ohio signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1 for a number of reasons, including his belief they’re ready to take the next step.
“They’ve been a team that you could say didn’t have their best year last year, but it’s a team that is new, it’s young, it’s vibrant, it’s ready to win,” Roslovic said Thursday during an appearance on TSN 1050’s OverDrive. “A couple familiar faces around, a really cool, a really good style of hockey that’s exciting and just wanted to be a part of it.”
Roslovic, who scored 21 goals and 15 assists over 69 games in 2025-26 in his first and only season with the Edmonton Oilers, is projected to be one of up to 10 new faces in Toronto’s opening night lineup.
New general manager John Chayka made a number of changes to the roster that finished last in the Atlantic Division last season, namely selecting Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, acquiring puck-moving defencemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae via trades, signing veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky as well as depth forwards in Roslovic, Nicholas Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime and Zack MacEwen.
“Obviously, with some new faces around, it creates for a little bit more in the department of camaraderie, but I think that’s never a bad thing for anyone. I think we’re all super excited to be able to do that,” said Roslovic. “I think that the core group that’s been here for many years is excited about it as well. The ability to keep on pushing, obviously as fast as we can start pushing the ship with them, it’s going to be really fun.”
Captain Auston Matthews is returning for an 11th season in Toronto and will reunite with fellow American Roslovic after spending two seasons together as part of the United States junior hockey program from 2013 to 2015.
Roslovic has kept a close eye on Matthews during his time in the NHL and has been impressed with his progression into one of the game’s best goal producers when healthy.
“We played in juniors together and I had a lot of success at that level and I’ve been watching him from far a bit. Obviously, still close friends and watching the way he’s grown as a person, as a player, it’s remarkable to see what he’s done,” explained Roslovic. “Being the captain here obviously is not an easy thing to do, but the ability for him and the way he plays and the way he exerts himself on a daily basis is awesome. So once again, just excited to get pushing with him and be able to play and pick up some things that will translate for my game.”
After scoring at least 40 goals in five straight seasons - including netting a career high 69 in 2023-24 - Matthews has dealt with injuries in each of the past two seasons, recording 33 and 27 goals, respectively.
Roslovic could be a candidate to play with Matthews either on Toronto’s top line or the power play at some point this season.
Roslovic, who is set to join his sixth team in his 11th NHL season, has experience playing with superstar players as he spent last season with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton.
“Every team you kind of become a sponge and you pick up things and it’s one of the many benefits to being on different teams. The ability to keep on pushing no matter what stage of your career you’re at, I think you find it with all the great players,” Roslovic said. “It’s pretty amazing to watch what he [McDavid] did every day and there’s always that one or two guys that you kind of are like, alright, it’s special. For him it was impressive to not only see his work on the ice every day, but what goes into it behind the scenes that not many others see.”
Selected 25th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2015, Roslovic has recorded three 20-plus goal seasons in his career, including two straight, and has tallied a total of 123 goals and 173 assists over 595 career games with the Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes and Oilers.
He has three goals and 15 assists over 51 playoff games.
