Ryan Wilson: Evan Rodrigues will not be returning to the Penguins, probaby should have Evan Rodrigues will not be returning to the Penguins, probaby should have

ERod 2 mill/one year >>>>>> Kap 3.2 mill/2 years

ERod 2 mill/one year >>>>>> Kap 3.2 mill/2 years
- MattStrat

Yup.

I've seen Rodrigues play (he scored here in Denver during that game near the end of the season) and pored through his numbers for weeks as it seemed pretty likely the Avs would sign him. CF at 59%, one of his worst shooting percentages of his career combined with by far his best offensive numbers and not a huge ATOI: all good.

What else can you folks tell us about him? Is he another anomaly created by playing with Crosby? Good or bad or indifferent in the room? Better Center or Wing? How's his skating? Since the summer of 2017 when Joe said publicly, "we're going to build a team that can skate" that's been the major piece of the Avs identity.

I've seen Rodrigues play (he scored here in Denver during that game near the end of the season) and pored through his numbers for weeks as it seemed pretty likely the Avs would sign him. CF at 59%, one of his worst shooting percentages of his career combined with by far his best offensive numbers and not a huge ATOI: all good.

What else can you folks tell us about him? Is he another anomaly created by playing with Crosby? Good or bad or indifferent in the room? Better Center or Wing? How's his skating? Since the summer of 2017 when Joe said publicly, "we're going to build a team that can skate" that's been the major piece of the Avs identity.
- FoppaForever

He's got soft hands and a great shot. There's times where he pulls out some dangles where you're like where the (frank) has that been? Then he doesn't dangle for a few weeks. He's a good depth signing and I think he could be a good 3rd wheel in a 2nd line. Only 7 of his points (all assists) came playing on Sid's line so he was solid away from Sid as well. Played well with Heinen and Kapenan.

I've seen Rodrigues play (he scored here in Denver during that game near the end of the season) and pored through his numbers for weeks as it seemed pretty likely the Avs would sign him. CF at 59%, one of his worst shooting percentages of his career combined with by far his best offensive numbers and not a huge ATOI: all good.

What else can you folks tell us about him? Is he another anomaly created by playing with Crosby? Good or bad or indifferent in the room? Better Center or Wing? How's his skating? Since the summer of 2017 when Joe said publicly, "we're going to build a team that can skate" that's been the major piece of the Avs identity.
- FoppaForever

He can skate well. I would of liked to seen him used at C more often, just to see how it looked prolonged, but he was almost always wing with the Pens. I think he did have a lot of C time with the Sabres. Not so sure he can be a Kadri replacement but I will say, for whatever reason(s), to my eyes he always looked a lot better in the top 6 than bottom 6. Just looked to have more swagger and confidence.

I liked EROD He was an effective passionate player with good energy all the time,
I really do not know why people were always complaining about him. He did what he was asked to do and did it effectively. If he finished with scoring goals he would be a legit 30 goal guy, just does not have the skills to do so It is not from the lack of effort (see Kappy) who is often in a fog

For those who have the short memory, on January 6, the Pens' 33rd game of the year, E-rod scored a goal against the Flyers. In the rest of the games played he had a total of four and he played all 82 last year!

Saying his offense dried up is an understatement!

Thanks to all of you who weighed-in, It's always interesting to hear the perspectives of those who've watched a guy play a bunch.

For those who have the short memory, on January 6, the Pens' 33rd game of the year, E-rod scored a goal against the Flyers. In the rest of the games played he had a total of four and he played all 82 last year!

Saying his offense dried up is an understatement!
- stevens87

Yeah, like I said he seemed to be better in top 6, which I'm pretty sure he spent more time in, in first half....and he was also getting 1st PP unit time in the first half of season as well.

Yeah, like I said he seemed to be better in top 6, which I'm pretty sure he spent more time in, in first half....and he was also getting 1st PP unit time in the first half of season as well.
- MattStrat

I doubt he gets a top 6 assignment in Colorado, unless there is a rash of injuries and I know he won't be on the 1st PP.

wouldn't have been a 1 year fix to me, would have ridded them of Zucker and freed up 5.5m to add onto whatever cap space they had. Could have tried to go after a high end free agent. Had they done it differently say...

Trade Zucker and a first - 5.5m
Let Kap walk - 3.2m
Don't waste a signing on Rutta - 2.75m
Don't waste a signing on Archi - 900k

That's 11-12m.

Johnny Gaudreau?

Not saying he would have come to Pitt but (frank), if there's a possibility for that, and if you're legitimately trying to extend a window and there's a chance to get a player of that caliber, give your balls a tug and take a risk.
- j.boyd919

It's short term because they lose the contract in a year anyways. So they could theoretically try the same idea next year and just not lose a 1st.

To nit pick the contracts:
They needed a 3rd scoring wing, though I'd agree they spent it on the wrong guy in Kap or could have just bargain shopped to bring ERod back

Probably save 2M not signing Ruuta and keep Friedman or open a space for Smith rather than full contract

Archibald makes almost nothing above minimum so he saves you little.

So 7.5-8.5M. Don't think that gets Gaudreau, but I'd bite if they set up a deal to sign him and then trade Zucker for a 1st. Can't think of anyone else off the top of my head and I wouldn't do it just to clear cap space and then add someone who isn't a true difference maker.

I've seen Rodrigues play (he scored here in Denver during that game near the end of the season) and pored through his numbers for weeks as it seemed pretty likely the Avs would sign him. CF at 59%, one of his worst shooting percentages of his career combined with by far his best offensive numbers and not a huge ATOI: all good.

What else can you folks tell us about him? Is he another anomaly created by playing with Crosby? Good or bad or indifferent in the room? Better Center or Wing? How's his skating? Since the summer of 2017 when Joe said publicly, "we're going to build a team that can skate" that's been the major piece of the Avs identity.
- FoppaForever

Better at C and he's a good skater. A lot of us wanted him back.

Like others said, he did most of his damage early when Crosby and Malkin we're out playing top 6 C and eventually getting PP time. Earned a shot on Crosby's wing but didn't do much with it and struggled to find a role later. But he's a nice depth piece to have around and if he gets a shot at 2-3 C he should have a decent year though he won't replace what Kadri did. But for 2 months he was arguably our best healthy forward.

I looked up ERod's splits

First 33 games: 15 goals and 30 points

Last 49: 4 goals and 13 points

I looked up ERod's splits

First 33 games: 15 goals and 30 points

Last 49: 4 goals and 13 points
- Tojo.

Lee Stempniak

I looked up ERod's splits

First 33 games: 15 goals and 30 points

Last 49: 4 goals and 13 points
- Tojo.

Yea when Sid and Geno were both out he shined best when we really needed it. I knew his offense was gonna slow down when they were both back but not THAT much.

Lee Stempniak
- AdamFrench

Pretty good comparison 👍

Thanks would love to hear Hextall’s reasoning for signing Kapanen to two years at more money. Not the standard press release after the signing but the logic behind it.

I looked up ERod's splits

First 33 games: 15 goals and 30 points

Last 49: 4 goals and 13 points
- Tojo.

Makes perfect sense...

First 33 games: zero Geno
First 33 games: partial Sid
First 33 games: minimal Rust

Last 49 games: close to 100 % healthy up front

The Penguins invested too much in Kapanen to give up on him already. Maybe Rodrigues was the one trying to cash in on what he thought would be bigger offers and ones he might not get again if he played for one more year in Pittsburgh. He’s got good speed and a great shot but I don’t think you can rely on him in a top 6 role for a whole season.

Thanks would love to hear Hextall’s reasoning for signing Kapanen to two years at more money. Not the standard press release after the signing but the logic behind it.
- Sams_Dog

Probably just still believe in his potential and what he did the previous year. And he's been pretty good as the 3rd line scorer in Toronto.

That's my guess, I'm not really a fan of Kap myself. No hockey sense. But he does have talent.

Makes perfect sense...

First 33 games: zero Geno
First 33 games: partial Sid
First 33 games: minimal Rust

Last 49 games: close to 100 % healthy up front

No different than geno having career years with Sid out. Better wingers and more Letang time. Also he did have some serious swagger on that top pp.

Fun question of the day:

You're a forward going into a corner for a puck and you have a defenseman closing in you. You can choose the defenseman from the following three (in their prime):

Chris Pronger
Zdeno Chara
Shea Weber

Who would you choose, and why?

I would choose Chara because, even though he's the biggest, he'd probably hit the cleanest. Pronger would no problem knocking me out cold with an elbow and Weber may want to give me a WWF-style head smash.

Fun question of the day:

You're a forward going into a corner for a puck and you have a defenseman closing in you. You can choose the defenseman from the following three (in their prime):

Chris Pronger
Zdeno Chara
Shea Weber

Who would you choose, and why?

I would choose Chara because, even though he's the biggest, he'd probably hit the cleanest. Pronger would no problem knocking me out cold with an elbow and Weber may want to give me a WWF-style head smash.
- jmatchett383

Weber easily. Chara might clip your brain by accident and Pronger will clip your brain on purpose. Weber was just really strong and would knock people down.

Fun question of the day:

You're a forward going into a corner for a puck and you have a defenseman closing in you. You can choose the defenseman from the following three (in their prime):

Chris Pronger
Zdeno Chara
Shea Weber

Who would you choose, and why?

I would choose Chara because, even though he's the biggest, he'd probably hit the cleanest. Pronger would no problem knocking me out cold with an elbow and Weber may want to give me a WWF-style head smash.
- jmatchett383

I'd be glad Scott Stevens wasn't an option. But I'd agree on Chara, he'd most likely just try to pin you to the boards with his hit.