Summer Spotlight: Jack Roslovic

Number: 96
Birth date: Jan. 29, 1997 (age 25)
Birthplace:Columbus, Ohio
Height, Weight:6-1, 193
Stats: 81 GP, 22-23-45
Contract: Signed through 2023-24 season (Two years remaining before UFA status)

If there's momentum in finishing strong, then it might be wise to buy stock in Jack Roslovic this coming season.
The Columbus native's second season in union blue got off to a frustrating start, with Roslovic going the first 15 games of the season without scoring a goal. But he ended on a completely different note, posting 10 goals in the Blue Jackets' last 22 games while serving as the team's No. 1 center.
Add it all up and Roslovic posted a second straight season of offensive career highs, topping 20 goals and 40 points for the first time in his career. Perhaps more importantly, he worked his way into an improved all-around game, catching the eye of CBJ brass along the way.
"I think Jack grew a lot this year," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said of a player who
also was the team's Community MVP
. "He took some big steps on both sides of the puck. I think he has some exceptional ability with the puck. I think on the other side of the puck defensively, he took some strides this year."

Top Moment of 2021-22

The biggest game in Roslovic's strong finish to the 2021-22 season came in Detroit, as the center posted his second career hat trick (and first as a Blue Jacket) to push Columbus to a 5-4 win over the Red Wings. Roslovic netted the game-winning goal, scoring off a feed from Gus Nyquist 3:19 into the extra frame to give the Blue Jackets the win.

Stat to Know

Whether it was because of his improved play or the injury the Boone Jenner -- or some combination thereof -- Roslovic saw plenty of playing time down the stretch. He averaged 18:14 of ice time per game in the last 31 contests, a major jump from the 11:06 he averaged in the previous 22 games. It's the sign of a player who gained a lot of trust from his coach as the season went on.

2022-23 Expectations

Roslovic goes into the season expected to be a top-six center, and his production the past two years combined with his relative youth would seem to indicate he could take another step forward this upcoming season. He will be in the mix for top-line minutes, but no matter where he falls in the lineup, Roslovic will be counted one to be a consistent factor at both ends of the ice for his hometown team.