The New Jersey Devils didn’t just pick up Evan Rodrigues this summer - they picked up a puzzle.
He’s the kind of forward who can fit almost anywhere, which is exactly why he’s so interesting heading into this season. New Devils general manager Sunny Mehta saw him closely in Florida and is clearly betting that Rodrigues can be more than a useful add-on. The question is whether that bet pays off because Rodrigues is a true difference-maker, or because he’s simply been carried by stronger teams around him.
The Devils got Rodrigues as part of the Jacob Markstrom trade, a deal many people will remember for helping New Jersey move on from a difficult contract situation. But tucked into that transaction was a 33-year-old forward with a résumé that’s easy to debate.
Rodrigues has won two Stanley Cup titles with the Florida Panthers, and he has built a career as a steady, reliable presence. The bigger question is how much of that success belongs to him and how much came from being in the right places at the right times.
His track record does give the Devils something to work with. Rodrigues began with the Buffalo Sabres, then spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a key depth forward while helping them reach the playoffs in 2020-21 and 2021-22. In 2022-23, he landed with the Colorado Avalanche and put together a 39-point season while operating as a key part of their top six.
Then came Florida, where the Panthers found value the rest of the league passed on. Rodrigues was available to anyone, but Florida signed him to a four-year deal with a $3 million average annual value.
That kind of number for a top-six forward is the sort of bargain front offices dream about. He became part of the Panthers’ forward core, often skating with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, and that gave Florida another line that could hurt teams.
It also helped create the kind of depth that wears opponents down over a series.
Rodrigues’ playoff work is what makes the case for him even stronger. He scored seven goals in the 2024 run and posted 15 points in both playoff runs as Florida won back-to-back Cups. That’s the profile New Jersey is hoping it just imported: not a headline-grabber, but the kind of player who helps winning happen.
Still, the skepticism is fair. Rodrigues has spent much of his career around elite talent.
He had shifts alongside Sidney Crosby and played on the same line as Crosby with Evgeni Malkin in the mix. His year in Colorado came with Nathan MacKinnon’s playmaking behind him.
In Florida, he was part of a loaded top six. That makes it easy to wonder whether he’s been elevated by the company he keeps.
The production numbers don’t settle the argument either. Rodrigues has never been a huge scorer, with a career-high of 43 points and a reputation as a consistent 30-point player. Now he’s being asked to do more without the same level of support, especially if the Devils slide him lower in the lineup.
That’s where the possibilities get interesting. One option is a spot alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, where Rodrigues could be the finishing touch on the other wing. In that setup, Hughes and Bratt would still be the drivers, while Rodrigues would provide the kind of savvy support and scoring touch that fits with them.
Another path is a third-line role, where he could help supply depth scoring. Even though he’s a winger, Rodrigues has played center before, so he gives the Devils some flexibility. He could also line up with Dawson Mercer or Cody Glass centering the line.
That versatility may be his most valuable trait. New Jersey hasn’t always had that kind of lineup flexibility, and Rodrigues gives them a piece who can move around if injuries hit. For a team trying to sort out where he belongs, that makes him one of the most intriguing players on the roster.
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