Rodrigues Lands With Colorado on 1 Year, $2 Million Deal

Good things sometimes happen to those who wait, and that could apply to former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues.

Rodrigues, who was a valuable depth player last season and stepped up while some of the team’s bigger names were out because of injuries, signed Monday with the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, a one-year deal worth $2 million.

He became an unrestricted free agent this summer, and entered into a waiting game. Considering that many free agents were not snapped up quickly and bidding wars were scarce this offseason given the stale salary cap, this seems like a good deal for Rodrigues, a well-liked, versatile forward.

Rodrigues, 29, tailed off some the second half of last season for the Penguins, but he played all 82 games and by far hit career highs with 19 goals, 43 points.

He spent two-plus seasons with the Penguins after beginning his career with Buffalo.

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Look for Rodrigues to again fill the role of depth player with Colorado and a player who has an upbeat personality that could easily fit into the Avalanche locker room in terms of chemistry. When speaking with Pittsburgh reporters, Rodrigues routinely ended his session with wishes for a good day, safe travels home and the like.