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How Jack Roslovic can earn his first-line role with Auston Matthews

The right winger lucks into a chance to start with an all-star scorer and teenage pal, but must prove himself a two-way player.

Published Sep 18, 2026  •  3 minute read

Jack Roslovic (right) and Matthew Knies participate in a drill at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

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While Toronto had the ping-pong balls twice drop its way with No. 1 draft picks Auston Matthews and Gavin McKenna, it’s Jack Roslovic that must feel like he has won the Maple Leafs’ in-house lottery. 

He gets first shot at the coveted right-wing spot with centre Matthews and Matthew Knies, beginning with Saturday’s home exhibition against the Montreal Canadiens.

If former Hart/Lindsay/Rocket Richard Trophy-winner Matthews is to have a renaissance and Knies is past his own injury woes, who wouldn’t want to jump the queue to be on their flank? 

Right now, it’s a reunion for Roslovic and Matthews, who were two-thirds of the U.S. National Development Program’s ‘Superman Line’ with current Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk.

That nickname evolved from their lively goal celebrations, borrowed from football’s Cam Newton, who pretended to rip open a shirt like Clark Kent after touchdowns, transforming into the Man of Steel. 

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While Matthews didn’t lobby to be with Roslovic after his summer signing, it has the captain’s seal of approval to try and rekindle their magic before McKenna or someone else auditions for Mitch Marner’s old job.     

“Chemistry, camaraderie,” Roslovic said of what made he and Matthews effective in those two years culminating with bronze at the 2016 world junior championship. “That’s hard for a lot of guys (to build). It’s understanding what each person has to do.

“For me, it’s doing the dirty work and find the open ice for him to be a shooting threat.” 

Roslovic was chosen in the first round of 2015, a year before Matthews, 25th overall by the Jets. But where Matthews is a career Leaf, it’s Roslovic’s sixth NHL team, coming off a 21-goal year as part of Edmonton’s flying circus.

In his other travels to Winnipeg, hometown Columbus, the Rangers and Carolina, he kept tabs on Matthews, whose gumption he had admired from missing most of their first USNDP year with a “brutal” knee injury.

“That didn’t stop him being the player he is today,” Roslovic said, recalling him hobbling on the ice to practice, shooting from a chair, work on upper-body strength and study video while sidelined. “It’s what you don’t see that makes great players great.

“In that (U.S.) program, you really think about going through the mud, finding yourself at a young age. To be able to do that with somebody, it’s the hard times, the grunge that creates (strong) bonds.” 

Matthews, who envisions a higher degree of creativity under new coach Jim Hiller, hopes Roslovic enhances that along with Knies.

“He skates and shoots well, but can drive plays with his speed and holding on to pucks,” Matthews said of Roslovic. “It’s reading off of each other and knowing where Knies will be. (Saturday) will be a good test in a game situation.”

Hiller, who started McKenna with John Tavares and William Nylander, says no line is carved in stone. 

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“You have to be a good two-way player with Auston. You have to create offence and on the other side, if we’re going to allow (Matthews) more freedom to take risks, you have to be the guy cleaning that up on the way back. Jack and (Knies) fit that bill. Let’s see where it goes,” the coach said.

“Auston and I talked about a lot of combinations and he’s open to anybody. I just see him excited to play. He’s got the puck a lot, he’s stopping pucks, lifting sticks, doing all the things that make him special. 

“If we don’t (get results) we’ll think of something else.” 

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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