Confirmed with Link: Avs sign Evan Rodrigues - 1 year 2M AAV

[Chiarelli]

Watching the highlights, he has a solid one timer and a wrist shot. Likes going high blocker side on goalies with a writster. Can score with one timers on PP. Should be a good add the way Avs like to play

His release on his wrist shot is so long. I do like his one time tho and RHS

 

[the_fan]

3 goals 2 assists in 7 playoff games this year for the Pens

 

[CalderKing21]

This had to be the most fan lusted after player in FA for the Avs. So finally, he is signed and becomes an Av.

 

[The Moops]

3 goals 2 assists in 7 playoff games this year for the Pens

Most important part for me

I was right. Team won in spite of his cyclops ass. Imagine if he actually played average hockey. Avs go 16-1 easy.

This but unironically

 

[lionsDen]

47.06 on the face off dot last year won 144 lost 166

Won	Faceoffs Lost	Faceoffs %

20152016	BUF	2	21:04	1	0	0	0	1	100.00	7	14.29	0.39	11	9	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0
20162017	BUF	30	344:48	3	2	2	0	5	83.33	47	6.38	2.55	87	68	28	9	3	4	2	2	0	0	7	8	10	12	19	12	92	139	39.83
20172018	BUF	48	527:34	5	13	7	6	18	85.71	72	6.94	5.05	132	100	56	16	10	12	6	6	0	0	14	12	20	19	37	21	136	191	41.59
20182019	BUF	74	903:57	7	14	11	3	21	58.33	130	5.38	7.96	226	179	88	34	12	21	9	8	1	0	19	31	24	29	56	26	249	290	46.2
20192020	BUF	38	376:46	3	4	1	3	7	70.00	56	5.36	4.45	86	70	46	20	7	10	5	5	0	0	6	9	11	19	36	13	84	105	44.44
20192020	PIT	7	63:28	1	0	0	0	1	100.00	10	10.00	0.75	16	13	5	3	0	2	1	1	0	0	5	2	1	4	5	2	18	11	62.07
20202021	PIT	35	425:54	5	7	5	2	12	80.00	54	9.26	4.39	92	67	51	22	3	4	2	2	0	0	5	11	13	19	58	9	42	57	42.42
20212022	PIT	82	1056:57	9	20	12	8	29	65.91	186	4.84	15.5	300	238	165	65	21	14	7	7	0	0	16	20	31	82	108	25	144	162	47.06

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

What the Evan Rodrigues signing means for the Avalanche

Rodrigues is coming off a season in which he logged career highs in points, goals and assists.

theathletic.com

Rodrigues had bigger offers than the one from Colorado, but he liked the Avalanche’s chances to repeat and Jared Bednar’s style of coaching, according to a league source.

 

[Foppa2118]

I remember when Nuke was accused of being a low IQ player. You don't need to have a high IQ to have success in Bednar's system. You just need to be coachable and play his system.

If you do that the scoring chances will come. And Allard seems to get the most out of everyones untapped skill level. Some may be concerned he can't duplicate his numbers from last year, but I wouldn't be surprised if he improved on them with the Avs if he plays in the top 6, because that's what happens when talented players come here.

They needed one more top six/middle six forward and had very little cap space to do so. They got one on a 1 year deal for $2M. May not be a long term solution for 2C, but it's still a pretty good deal for a player that can help them.

 

[AvsMakar08]

Main question is, does he like chickpea pasta?

Nahh, he likes nachos and tacos.

 

[Foppa2118]

Those zone entry and rush chance numbers are what caught CMac's eyes for sure.

100% from Jan-April last year too. Looks around 99% for the season last year.

 

[the_fan]

Nahh, he likes nachos and tacos.

Best kinda food

 

[JH21]

Who's to say he can't replicate his 19 goal, 24 assist with us this year?

I think he should slot in with Lehkonen and Nichushkin and gives us one of the best two way lines in the league.

Landeskog- Mackinnon- Rantanen
Lehkonen- Rodrigues- Nichushkin
Newhook- Meyers- Compher
Cogliano- Helm- O'Connor
Blidh- Sedlak

That's a nice looking group right there.

 

[Freudian]

Sakic MacFarland is gambling on Rodrigues being a good fit with how Avs play that they will get another player overachieving. I guess so does the player, since it's in a way a one year show me contract, fully knowing that if he indeed shows us Avs won't have room to keep him.

 

[AvsFan29]

Who's to say he can't replicate his 19 goal, 24 assist with us this year?

I think he should slot in with Lehkonen and Nichushkin and gives us one of the best two way lines in the league.

Landeskog- Mackinnon- Rantanen
Lehkonen- Rodrigues- Nichushkin
Newhook- Meyers- Compher
Cogliano- Helm- O'Connor
Blidh- Sedlak

That's a nice looking group right there.

I like that lineup. Keeping Newhook and Compher out of the top 6 is nice. Newhook needs to earn his 2C spot

 

[Avaholic29]

I like that lineup. Keeping Newhook and Compher out of the top 6 is nice. Newhook needs to earn his 2C spot

I don’t see how he hasn’t earned it and rodrigues has? Lol Newhook was close to his career highs as a rookie all he needs to do is improve off the puck and he deserves the chance to show he’s done that before the new guy.


Landeskog - Mackinnon - Nichushkin
Lehkonen - Newhook - Rantanen
Rodrigues - Meyers - Compher
Cogliano - Helm - O’Connor

If Newhook struggles then you switch it up but he definitely deserves a shot to show his stuff, rodrigues won’t be here longer than a year.

 

[Muffin]

He actually has a laser of a shot, not sure how he didn't score 20.

 

[The Merchant]

Sure there’s a downside.

There is no downside to adding quality depth to your team for $2mill

 

[the_fan]

He actually has a laser of a shot, not sure how he didn't score 20.

That goal at around 7:08 is crazy good. What a play and then finish on backhand on a breakaway. Also it was against Shesterkin. Too good

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

ERod at 2M is so much better than not having Erod. Signing is a pure win for the Avs. He isn’t the savior. He isn’t a Kadri replacement. But he’s a HIGH end 3rd liner who can fill in on the 2nd line almost permanently. If we add a high end forward piece at the deadline for the top 6 and Erod is a full time third liner in the playoffs for it means we have some ridiculous depth. Cup winning depth.

Spot on.

If we add second line center at trade deadline this team looks amazing. As long as our goaltenders can hold.

 

[Richard88]

Who will be the first Avs fan to make a 2C trade proposal involving a third team now?

Has to be @Richard88

Since you summoned me...

Patrick Kane (75% retained) for 1st + Olausson + C prospect, plus 3rd/prospect to Arizona/Seattle for 25% retention.

Avs get Kane for the playoffs at a $2.75m caphit, leaving loads of space for another depth D add and to cover bonuses.

The advantage of waiting is that you know exactly what your lineup is missing. Maybe you have a season-ending injury to one of the two goalies and you need to spend assets to fix that. Maybe our top six clicks into place but our depth is having trouble producing enough. Maybe EJ is so hungover from the off-season that you need to find another right handed defenseman that can penalty kill for depth.

Also, if Byram stays healthy and has a monster year and hits one of the Schedule B bonuses, this signing means that we'll have overages that will cut into next year's cap space, which we already know is going to be very tight due to MacK's $15m AAV contract.

All depends on how many the Avs carry, and how well the guys on ELCs perform. If the Avs carry 23... then they are only accruing on 1m in space on a daily rate. If the Avs carry 20-21, they might be accruing at an over 2m daily rate. If Byram plays a top 4 role and scores a good amount, 850k could be bonuses. He blows up in a big way, he could take up more than that current space by himself. Newhook and Meyers could take up a mil with theirs too. Now the bonuses could be pushed to next year... but ~$2m next year could be even more critical than this year.

The fact that MacDermid (who can play both forward and D) is the only depth guy on a one-way deal indicates that they're aiming to roll with 21 as often as possible.

With 21 they're at just over $2.5m in space, which should be more than enough to cover bonuses.

Byram would need to win a Norris, Smythe, and/or get PP1 time from Makar (if he's injured) to put up enough points to hit B bonuses which doesn't seem all that likely. But for arguments sake even if he does go off in a big way and hits some B bonuses the Avs should still be able to cover that with ~$1.5-1.8m, and cover Newhook's and Meyers' bonuses with the rest.

Newhook at 3LW probably doesn't hit all his bonuses either, and Meyers doesn't have that much anyhow, so I think they'll be alright.

There will inevitably also be injuries and perhaps someone with a big caphit going on LTIR for a few weeks would allow them to have some space for bonuses (though that would temporarily stop them from accruing for the deadline). Either way I'm pretty confident CMac will find a way as he's great at cap management.

I'd hazard a guess that they internally have ~$2m budgeted for bonuses and ~$500k for accrual, with an aim to reassess at the TDL when they have a good idea of how many bonuses guys are going to hit and how much they have accrued.

Even if cap does end up super tight at the TDL due to injuries or bonuses they'll still have plenty of options thanks to the ERod signing. For example they could trade Compher ($3.5m) in a package for Kane (75% retained/$2.675m) and actually create *more* capspace.

 

[Richard88]

Bednar likes to have a RHS in the bumper spot on PP1 so that'll probably be ERod's job to lose.

In fact, I'd hazard a guess that a spot on PP1 may have been a crucial factor in him signing with the Avs on a cheap one year deal. He'll have a good opportunity to put up points in that role (just like Kadri did) and earn himself a sizeable payday next year.

----------- Landeskog ------------
Mack ---- ERod --- Rantanen
-------------- Makar -----------------

His slapshot also gives you the option of putting him in the MacKinnon spot on the 2nd unit, with Newhook shifting to the RW (and Lehkonen in the bumper on PP1).

---------- Nuke ---------------
ERod - JTC -- Newhook
---- Toews/G/Byram ----

How to handle the Dmen PP minutes will be interesting, as Byram (or rather, his agent) might start to agitate if he's not getting enough opportunities to out up points in a contract year.

I suspect Bednar will opt for the approach he had in the playoffs where Byram saw tonnes of icetime at 5v5 to compensate for less PP minutes. And then going with a two Dmen approach on PP2 with Toews + G/Byram.

 

[Balthazar]

He actually has a laser of a shot, not sure how he didn't score 20.

WTF happened at 5:45? Kuemper ffs...

 

[henchman21]

Since you summoned me...

Patrick Kane (75% retained) for 1st + Olausson + C prospect, plus 3rd/prospect to Arizona/Seattle for 25% retention.

Avs get Kane for the playoffs at a $2.75m caphit, leaving loads of space for another depth D add and to cover bonuses.





The fact that MacDermid (who can play both forward and D) is the only depth guy on a one-way deal indicates that they're aiming to roll with 21 as often as possible.

With 21 they're at just over $2.5m in space, which should be more than enough to cover bonuses.

Byram would need to win a Norris, Smythe, and/or get PP1 time from Makar (if he's injured) to put up enough points to hit B bonuses which doesn't seem all that likely. But for arguments sake even if he does go off in a big way and hits some B bonuses the Avs should still be able to cover that with ~$1.5-1.8m, and cover Newhook's and Meyers' bonuses with the rest.

Newhook at 3LW probably doesn't hit all his bonuses either, and Meyers doesn't have that much anyhow, so I think they'll be alright.

There will inevitably also be injuries and perhaps someone with a big caphit going on LTIR for a few weeks would allow them to have some space for bonuses (though that would temporarily stop them from accruing for the deadline). Either way I'm pretty confident CMac will find a way as he's great at cap management.

I'd hazard a guess that they internally have ~$2m budgeted for bonuses and ~$500k for accrual, with an aim to reassess at the TDL when they have a good idea of how many bonuses guys are going to hit and how much they have accrued.

Even if cap does end up super tight at the TDL due to injuries or bonuses they'll still have plenty of options thanks to the ERod signing. For example they could trade Compher ($3.5m) in a package for Kane (75% retained/$2.675m) and actually create *more* capspace.

I really don't think Bednar has much love for MacDonald... plenty of times he should have been the guy in the lineup, but wasn't many times.

I do think 21 guys is going to be a pretty normal thing for the team though provided they stay reasonably healthy.

On the bonus side, I expect Byram will max out his A bonuses in one way or another. The combo of Meyers and Newhook are likely only to get one or two. So a millionish total. That said, if Newhook gelled right away as a 2C, not unreasonable he ends up top 6 in icetime, top 3 in +/- amongst forwards, gets 20 goals (I actually think that is a lock), and 35 assists. Meyers could pop 20g too. If all that happens, we are looking right at 1.8m before anybody else and before B bonuses. Overall for A's, I think we are more in the realm of 1m.

B bonuses are harder to get, but let's throw out a theoretical. They can be worth 2m for any thing being met. I'd expect Byram's to have that structure. The lowest tier for Byram to hit his B bonus is likely ranking amongst defensemen in goals. If he is top 10 amongst defensemen in goals, he likely gets the full 2m. Last year 13 goals would have been top 10. If Byram runs the 2nd PP or Makar gets hurt for say 20+ games, I don't think it is out of the question that Byram could be over 10 and approaching 13-15. It is high, but it isn't like he is winning the Norris either. He's just having an offensive output goals wise at a Toews/Ghost/Dobson level.

LTIR is different and more difficult, for bonus accruals. You don't get the same day to day accrual for it. There is a separate bonus accrual portion and if there is a bonus. It is applied retroactively to the whole season. As an example, if Byram maxes out instead of being treated like a 894k cap hit, it would go back and be 3.4m... but any overage caused by this would spill over to the next season.

All of this is manageable, it just all comes with pros and cons. If the ELCs perform, next year is likely to be even messier.

 

[ASmileyFace]

I have a feeling this move will be remembered as one of the best of the off season.

The only thing he doesn't bring to the middle 6 is good faceoff ability, but the Avs don't give a shit about faceoffs anyways. He slots into the 2c by committee rotation easily and adds desperately needed firepower and a RHS to the PP. I like his motor and if he learns to use his teammates better some of the 50+ point predictions in this thread are a possibility.

 

[MonsterMack]

Dude is going to shine here.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Is this guy a blackhole or what? Are Rantanen, Nichushkin, Newhook, or Lehkonen going to a lot of world feeding him but its a one way street?

I'm sure the others would like to be fed as well.

I've seen numerous Penguins fans comment that he loves to shoot.