Our annual Top 25 Under 25 series serves to find the best young players in the Buffalo Sabres organization, be it NHL, AHL, European or junior leagues. We voted on everyone from Asplund to Willman, and the best 25 players get profiled throughout the month of September. Today’s subject: Evan Rodrigues.
Evan Rodrigues, C/RW
Age: 23 Height: 5’11” Weight: 174 lbs.
The forward was at 23rd in this list last season, but saw his stock rise after a decent year at the Rochester Americans where he scored nine goals with twenty one assists. He also played two games for the Sabres, scoring once and getting an assist as well.
Rodrigues was one of the more prolific shooters on the team, coming in third with 160 shots but was unfortunate with his goal tally at only a 5.6% shooting clip. His tally in 69 games in just his first professional season ranked second among Amerks rookies in both assists and points though.
He was called up late in the previous season in April, but we can expect him to get a few more chances up at the senior level this season. At the Amerks, he is going to have a strong case for being on Dan Lambert’s top line as he attempts to cement his role on the team.
Here’s his interview from locker cleanout day after the end of the Amerks season.
This is going to be a contract year for Rodrigues after he signed a two-year entry level deal last summer, so there’s that added incentive to impress this season as well.
Top 25 Under 25 so far –
#16-20 William Carrier, Cal Petersen, Nick Baptiste, Eric Cornel, Giorgio Estephan
#21-25 Dan Catenacci, Casey Fitzgerald, Anthony Florentino, Cliff Pu, Jason Kasdorf