Penguins Update: Rodrigues Signs with Colorado

When the Penguins re-signed forward Evan Rodrigues to a one-year deal last summer, sometimes PenguinPoop scribe Caleb Di’Natale was quite pleased. After all, Caleb frequently extolled E-Rod’s virtues to me and Other Rick…and anybody else who would listen.

“Mark my words,” he’d boast. “Rodrigues is going to hoist the Cup.”

At the time, I didn’t pay Caleb’s claims much heed. But now? His vision just might come true.

That’s because Rodrigues signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche for $2 million. The defending Cup champs.

According to reports, the Avs are viewing E-Rod as a replacement for their erstwhile second-line center, Nazem Kadri, who took the money and bolted north of the border to Calgary over the summer.

It’s a role the Toronto native filled quite ably for the Pens last season while Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were convalescing, to the tune of 15 goals and 30 points in his first 33 games.

Once Malkin returned? It was roughly akin to dragging a needle off the phonograph record in terms of production. Indeed, with E-Rod consigned to bottom-six duty, his output plunged to pedestrian levels more in line with his career numbers.

Still, I thought he remained an effective player thanks to his speed, hustle and puck-hounding nature, not to mention versatility. Shaking off his struggles down the stretch, Rodrigues enjoyed a strong postseason, notching three goals in seven games, including a spectacular shorty in Game 7 that looked for a time like it just might be the difference maker.

Truth be told, I would gladly have extended an offer to E-Rod this summer (and let Kasperi Kapanen walk) but the Pens’ brass had other plans.

It’ll be interesting to see how Rodrigues performs in his new digs and new role. In a way it reminds me of Frederick Gaudreau, who parlayed a solid performance in a supporting role with the black-and-gold into second-line duty with the Wild last season.

Simon Says No

I was somewhat surprised to learn the Pens had extended a training camp invitation to one of the more polarizing players in club history, Dominik Simon. Then again, maybe I wasn’t.

If there ever was a player who seemed to embody the characteristics Mike Sullivan values, it’s Simon. Traits that led our coach to push hard for the Pens to sign him last summer following a lost season in Calgary.

And just to be clear, the former two-time Pen possesses some admirable qualities, including speed, grit, a solid work ethic and the ability to drive possession. Apparently, his teammates…Crosby among the most prominent…loved him and loved playing with him.

Of course, there were shortcomings in Simon’s game, too. Most notably an abject inability to put the puck in the net or to fully exploit the myriad opportunities his hard work helped create.

I confess, I felt badly at times for the Czech forward. While Simon had his supporters, predominantly among the analytics community, he also absorbed more than his share of heat on social media, some of it bordering on abuse a la Jack Johnson. Basically, just for being the player he was and is.

Count me among those who could be hypercritical at times.

Also count me among those who are pleased Simon has decided to return to his homeland to play for his old team, HC Sparta Praha. I wish him all the success and platitudes that seemed to elude him on North American ice.

Deutschland Deutschland

Former black-and-gold forwards Adam Johnson and Carter Rowney have signed to play in Germany this season.

Rowney, who served as a fourth-liner for our 2017 Cup winners, agreed to terms with Lowen Frankfurt. The speedy Johnson, who skated in 13 games for the black-and-gold over a two-season span, signed with the Augsburger Panther.

Both clubs compete in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).