Oilers Finally Cop to ‘Whoops’ with Roslovic, Will Correct Course in 2026

“Whatever I need to do to help the team, you know, just be deployed wherever I can be, as long as I’m playing.” That was Jack Roslovic‘s response after being asked about the decision to elevate him off the third line and move him back into the top six mid-game versus the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. Edmonton’s head coach sees things a little differently.

According to Kris Knoblauch, it’s become apparent that Roslovic is too skilled to be stuck on a line with anchors, and that’s essentially what the Edmonton Oilers’ third line has become.

The Oilers may not have intended to arrive at this conclusion. Still, the reality is becoming unavoidable: they don’t have the horses they need to form a dangerous third line, and they can’t afford to bury a legitimate top-six forward anymore — not after a 6-2 loss proved that he’s too valuable alongside the team’s elite stars. Not as the calendar turns toward 2026.

Roslovic Can’t Be Used To Spark Players Who Aren’t Producing

Some of this is about Roslovic’s performance against the Bruins. Much of it is that no one else is taking the opportunity. As complementary a player as Roslovic seems to be, he might not be capable of dragging guys into the battle. He certainly wasn’t able to pull much out of Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark.

But when Roslovic got the look in an elevated role, he scored. Andrew Mangiapane had essentially shown that the chance he was being given to make good with a top-six spot was going to go to waste. Knoblauch didn’t dance around it either, openly stating, “We made that switch putting Roslovic there. Obviously, we feel that Roslovic is a better player, but I thought Andrew did some things that helped us.”

When asked if it’s time to keep Roslovic on that second line, Knoblauch responded, “Looks like we need him playing in the top six.”

That’s about as close to an admission that the Oilers’ margin for error up front has vanished as Knoblauch has ever offered.

The Oilers Can’t Sacrifice Their Top Six for Their Third Line

For much of the season, Edmonton has tried to walk a fine line: maintain a functioning third line while juggling combinations around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It feels like they’ve found a first line that is clicking. McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman are as solid as it gets. But, trying to pull someone like Roslovic off the second line to boost the third is no longer working.

The Bruins game showed exactly why. Draisaitl needed help, didn’t get it from Mangiapane — who played under 8 minutes following a healthy scratch and in a showcase role –, and the coaching staff reacted accordingly. Roslovic moved up. Mangiapane’s ice time evaporated.

Knoblauch all but confirmed the Draisaitl–Roslovic–Vasily Podkolzin trio is the direction moving forward. The Oilers are prioritizing top-six stability over depth optics, because weakening their top two lines simply isn’t an option anymore.

This also reframes Roslovic’s role entirely. He’s no longer a depth luxury or a matchup-based experiment. He’s a necessary piece to keep Draisaitl clicking.

As 2026 approaches, the Oilers are learning a hard truth: if you have a forward who can contribute in the top six, you play him there. Trying to take that player and fit him into the wrong role just isn’t good roster management.

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