Roslovic Proving He Belongs Young Gun Feeling More Comfortable with Big Club
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Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/roslovic-feeling-more-comfortable-with- big-club-475611853.html Roslovic proving he belongs Young gun feeling more comfortable with big club By: Jeff Hamilton Jack Roslovic knows he still has plenty to learn in his pursuit to be an everyday NHL player. But even though he understands the inevitable bumps that come with such a steep learning curve, he has proven to be a quick study in the two months he’s been up with the Winnipeg Jets, playing key minutes on one of the team’s top lines and looking every bit like he belongs. "I definitely felt he stood out to me in training camp," veteran Bryan Little, who centres a line with Roslovic and Mathieu Perreault on his wings, recalled after Thursday’s practice. "He’s young and he’s only going to get better, but the speed is the first thing you notice. He’s got a lot of poise and just patience with the puck that not a lot of young guys have." After tearing up the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose for the first half of the season, leading the team with 35 points (15 goals, 25 assists) in 32 games, Roslovic, 21, was recalled by the Jets on Dec. 30. He hit the ice a week later for his second NHL game — he made his debut this past season in a 5-4 win over his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets — and he has remained in the lineup ever since. At first, the Jets were hoping he could add some scoring punch to the fourth line, while also taking advantage of playing against lesser competition by working on his defensive game. Hovering around 10 minutes a night, which was a stark contrast to the heavy minutes he was earning with the Moose, Roslovic took the transition in stride. "It was a challenge to get your feet wet. They always say that this league isn’t much different, but it’s a lot different," said Roslovic, who was selected by the Jets in the first round — 25th overall — in the 2015 NHL Draft. "The speed of the game and the way people play, it’s a lot more structurally sound in a lot of ways, which is hard to play against. You’ve got to do the right things every shift and every time you get the puck and every time you’re defending a rush or you’re in the defensive zone. "As far as reads go, it’s a lot harder, but once you get your feet wet and once you get comfortable, it’s pretty easy." With more experience came an increase in confidence and opportunity. By his eighth game, with Mark Scheifele down with a serious shoulder injury, Roslovic was promoted to the top line with captain Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. He’d make the most of his shot, tying the game midway through the third period with his first NHL goal. The Jets would go on to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in a shootout. Roslovic remained there for the next four games, scoring two more goals and averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time. When Scheifele returned from injury on Feb. 9, Roslovic dropped back to the fourth line and his minutes were trimmed. What didn’t dip, though, was his production. He chipped in two assists over the next three games and was moved back up the lineup to where he is now, alongside Little and Perreault on the second line. "If you stick to what you’re good at and what your line is best at, then you’ll be successful," said Roslovic, who won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 2017 World Junior Championships. "There is a reason why we’re together: we can all skate, we can all make plays and when we’re flying around and chipping in and going north, we’re really dangerous." Since the move, Roslovic has a goal and two assists in six games. His line had a particularly tough outing in a 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators, where they were on the hook for two goals against and contributed none. Roslovic doesn’t view his development in terms of goals and assists, but what he can glean from each time he’s out on the ice. Against the Predators, it was the taste of a playoff-like atmosphere, something he, like most of his teammates, will be completely new to this season. The Jets and Predators are considered among the legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this year, and could meet one another in the playoffs. "It’s a really different style of hockey and that was just a taste of it," Roslovic said. "It’s good that I get to come in here and kind of tune up for it and do a couple of regular-season games. I’m excited and a lot of the young guys are excited and eager to get ready." Of course, there will be much to learn between now and April, and in the years to come. What’s clear, though, is Roslovic will no doubt play a key role in the Jets’ future. "Right where he’s at now is the place he’s trying to hang onto. I like him on the wing," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said. "If the centre ice is available for him maybe a couple of years from now, you get an injury and we’ll slide him in and if he flourishes there, we might consider leaving him there. "He’s not a grinder, but for a guy with good hands and quickness he can win enough battles on the wall, get in and get on the puck. His real challenge — and Nashville wasn’t his A-game — is to be able to drive every single night." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/hellebuyck-focussing-on-next-game- after-nashville-stinker-475612203.html Hellebuyck won't discuss tough Nashville loss By: Jeff Hamilton Facing reporters for the first time since Tuesday’s 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck didn’t feel like reliving his unpleasant night. "I do mind going back to it. I don’t want to bring it up," Hellebuyck said when asked to go over what he and goaltending coach Wade Flaherty discussed from the game. "There’s no need — it’s in the past. There are 82 games and I’m focusing on the next one. We’ve had a good run, so far, and we want to continue it." Not that you could blame him. It was a rare off night in an otherwise solid season for the third- year tender. Hellebuyck, 24, allowed six goals on 32 shots, boasting a putrid .813 save percentage — one of the worst percentages over his career. Hellebuyck, despite the rough outing, possesses a stellar 2.39 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. In 50 starts, his record is 32-10-8 and many NHL pundits consider him a worthy Vezina Trophy candidate, awarded to the league’s best goaltender. The concern that Hellebuyck might be overused — with 19 games left in the regular season, he needs just three more starts to match his career-high — popped up again. And once more, Hellebuyck got in front of it, suggesting there was nothing to be worried about. "I’m not tired at all," he said. "I know my body really well and I have a lot of good tools around me. I’m feeling good and I’m excited." Head coach Paul Maurice downplayed overusing Hellebuyck. He said it was all about rhythm and routine, noting the Jets have 15 games this month and a bunch on the road — a stretch he doesn’t plan to keep Hellebuyck out for any block of. "You’ve got to be careful where you think the balance is," Maurice said. "There’s a bunch of things going on concurrently with this team. There are young guys going through some things for the first time. And this is going to be his first numbers at the end of the year looking like a No. 1 guy — it’s in that mid-60 (games played) range. "We had an unusual run at home, which happened at the same time as a couple of goalies down. So, he’s probably a little ahead of his number, but not much. So, he’s dealing with it. Some of it is the normal fatigue that all these guys feel. He hasn’t dealt with that in the NHL yet. It’s going to be something that’s going to become part of his life. That’s just the normal deal." Hellebuyck will get the start tonight, with Michael Hutchinson assigned the role of backup. Maurice said Steve Mason, who has been out since Jan. 12 with a concussion, will join the Manitoba Moose this weekend and will get into a game as part of a conditioning stint. WHAT A YEAR CAN DO: At this time this past season, the Winnipeg Jets had 62 points — a 21-point difference from the 83 points they have through 63 games this year. Captain Blake Wheeler was asked to what he attributed such an incredible turnaround. "We’ve been better defensively — goaltending has been better," he said. "Those two areas give you a chance to win every night." TOBY ON THE SHELF: Maurice said defenceman Toby Enstrom remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury he suffered at practice on Monday and will be out of the lineup against the Red Wings.