Former Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues, one of the more versatile players in the NHL, has joined the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
On Monday, the Avalanche announced Rodrigues, 29, joined that club, signing a one-year contract. According to Cap Friendly, the deal is worth $2 million.
Capable of playing all three forward positions, the right-handed Rodrigues spent parts of the past three seasons with the Penguins after being acquired through a trade with the Buffalo Sabres in February of 2020.
During the 2021-22 campaign, Rodrigues was often pressed into a role among the Penguins’ top-six forwards due to injuries among incumbents in those roles, most notably, franchise centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. As a result, Rodrigues, the only member of the team to appear in all 82 games, set career highs in games played, goals (19), assists (24) and points (43) and average ice time per contest (15:50).
Last season, Rodrigues was signed to a one-year deal worth $1 million.
With Rodrigues off to Colorado, four players who finished the 2021-22 season under an NHL contract with the Penguins remain unsigned with any league in North America or Europe:
Forwards — Justin Almeida, Brian Boyle, Michael Chaput, Jan Drozg
Defenseman — Will Reilly
