The Colorado Avalanche have signed unrestricted free agent forward Evan Rodrigues to a one-year contract worth $2 million. This contract carries him through the 2022-23 season.
One year, $2M https://t.co/ObdBVvq9Au
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 12, 2022
Evan Rodrigues Gets Contract
Over his seven-year NHL career, Rodrigues has played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has put up 53 goals and 76 assists for 129 career points in 316 career games. Buffalo signed Rodrigues as an undrafted free agent after a standout 2014-15 campaign with Boston University. He was second in the nation in scoring behind future Sabres teammate Jack Eichel. The former Terrier finished as the Hockey East conference player of the month in January and April of 2015.
Last season he scored a career-high 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in a full 82-game slate. He also added 14 penalty minutes during the 2021-22 campaign. His possession numbers were 59.8 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 10.5.
The Etobicoke, Ontario native notched his first career hat trick this season with a three-goal effort in an 8-5 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 2. He also added three goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Penguins were eliminated by the rival New York Rangers.
What This Means for the Future
The soon-to-be 29-year-old had a breakout season with the Penguins, reaching double-digit goals for the first time in his professional career. He was a bright spot for the Penguins in a playoff run that saw them cough up a 3-1 series lead.
Rodrigues can play throughout the lineup and has shown a knack for scoring goals. He did play with some solid teammates like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. However, the forward did pot seven goals on the power play this season for Pittsburgh.
He’s under 6 feet tall but can get into spots that create scoring chances. Rodrigues is a good forward to have around on a team. He will help replace some of the production the Avalanche lost this offseason.
Here is a photo of Evan Rodrigues, Bryan Rust‘s favorite player. We’ve heard he is a lot of people’s favorite player.
Time for the 3rd period of play!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/QgybjNOyNA
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 7, 2022
