The free agent market is still filled with legitimate NHL talent, even as the calendar turns to September and players start arriving to begin group workouts. Training camp is starting soon, and some talent is still waiting to find out where they will be skating this season.
One of those players is Evan Rodrigues, who broke out by playing with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, scoring 19 goals and 43 points in 82 games. Those numbers would usually be more than enough for a player to land a healthy contract in the first few days of free agency but Rodrigues remains unsigned as August comes to a close.
While his name has been connected to several clubs over the last few weeks, including the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks, there are a number of teams in the mix. According to his agent Darren Ferris, who spoke with ESPN, “a good seven or eight” teams are having discussions with Rodrigues’ camp. Ferris went on to explain that while there appear to be a few good fits for his client, teams are dealing with difficult cap restraints and trying to move money out.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN suggests a reunion with the Penguins could be one of those fits, but after re-signing the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and Kasperi Kapanen (not to mention acquiring Jeff Petry) there isn’t much money left in Pittsburgh.
Rodrigues, 29, had never scored more than nine goals in a season previously, but still did show flashes of offensive upside in his early career with the Buffalo Sabres. The undrafted forward became a star at Boston University and is at least good enough to secure a deal somewhere in the NHL.
How expensive and for how long that deal will be remains to be seen but with dwindling cap space around the league, the forward may be better off taking a one-year deal in a good situation and trying again next summer.
The other problem for him resigning in Pittsburgh is that his best position is center. Yes he can play wing, but he thrived at center while Malkin was out early in the year. Presuming health, which the past few years has been a joke, the Pens have center covered and need mid-to-bottom six wingers.
Too bad they can’t renig on the Carter extension and replace him with ERod
Why would they? Alright, he’s going to drop off a cliff any time now, but Carter is still producing quality offense and physical play, he was great on the dot last season, and he’s not making an exorbitant salary.
Only 12 teams, as it stands, has as much as $2 MM in cap space left. Some of those — like Dallas, LA and Ottawa — still have guys to sign.
Pittsburgh? It’s not that there’s “not a lot of money left” there — the Penguins are a million over the cap as it stands. Do they have anyone obviously going to LTIR?
I said in June that the free agent market would be a giant game of musical chairs, and that some players would be left standing when the music stopped. Barring some serious injuries in training camp, the Rodrigueses and Milanos of the world look to be standing.
Can’t say I don’t blame teams for not going out of their way at this point to bring him in. The only deals that make sense are really a one year “show me” deal or maybe a 2-3 year one at an AAV that he probably thinks he deserves more than. There’s just too many signs that say he was more of a product of his lineups rather than a legit middle six option on his own.
He played better when the good players were hurt, actually.
He’s a good player.
Why we gave Kapanen $3.2 million a year when we could have had Rodrigues for half that money or less is still a mystery?
He isn’t that good. Why spend money on him when there is similar talent in the minors who would play for peanuts.
Why not give guy’s like Poulin, O’Connor, And Zohorna some reps? There Is nothing special about Rodrigues!!!!!
If only he stayed in buffalo