Evan Rodrigues
Positon: C/RW
Age: 22
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 179 lbs.
2013-14 team: Boston University (NCAA)
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Only one player scored more frequently in college hockey than Evan Rodrigues last season: his linemate Jack Eichel. Now, they both belong to the Buffalo Sabres.
Rodrigues had an excellent senior season at Boston University, scoring 61 points in 41 games and led the team in scoring during the NCAA tournament. He was a Hockey East second-team all-star, the most outstanding player in BU’s regional of the NCAA tournament and was chosen to Hockey East’s tournament first-team.
It’s fair to wonder how much Rodrigues’ sudden peak in production was due to playing alongside Eichel. He almost doubled his career high. In fact, he had more points this season than he had in his previous three years combined.
Terriers’ coach David Quinn told the Boston Globe that Rodrigues’ was one of the team’s best penalty killers and constantly made clutch plays throughout the season. His best quality was likely his passing ability, as he set up players in near perfect position. You don’t have to be Eichel to tap in some of the goals he created.
He’s a bit of a question mark, but as an undrafted free agent he isn’t much of a risk. He’ll play in Rochester, and if he shows that he needs a world class player next to him to make an impact, then they’ll cut him loose. He’ll be one of the players to watch on an interesting Amerks squad.
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