The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to retool their forward corps as NHL free agency ramped up on Wednesday, signing Jack Roslovic to a two-year deal with an AAV of $4 million.
It was Toronto's second offensive move of the day after the Leafs sent the rights to restricted free agent winger Nick Robertson to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick.
Robertson had carried an inconsistent role in Toronto for the last two seasons, shuttling throughout all four lines without sticking in any spot long term. A fresh start felt inevitable for both sides.
The 2025-26 campaign was Robertson's strongest statistical year in the NHL, with 16 goals and 32 points in 78 games and now Robertson - who has arbitration rights - will now either translate that upswing into a new contract and opportunity with Pittsburgh, or the Penguins could leverage him as part of another packaged deal.
In Roslovic, the Leafs are betting on a stable, established skater with nine years of NHL experience who can carry second or third line minutes. The 29-year-old had 21 goals and 36 points in 69 games for Edmonton last season in his second consecutive campaign with 20-plus goals scored and can fill a role on special teams for the Leafs, too.
There is also familiarity between Roslovic and Leafs' captain Auston Matthews, from their time together with the US National Team Development Program from 2013-15. Toronto had to target reliable depth scorers in free agency given the uncertainty surrounding the status of forward Max Domi.
He suffered a complication during offseason surgery, and Leafs' GM John Chayka has only said Domi will be "reevaluated" ahead of September's training camp with no definitive answer yet on whether he'll be available to start the year.
Roslovic brings some of the same characteristics, with versatility and scoring touch for new coach Jim Hiller to deploy where necessary for Toronto up front.
