NHL Rumors: 'Zero Doubt' That Teams Are Pursuing Panthers' Evan Rodrigues

Evan Rodrigues is a trade candidate (& cap casualty) for the Panthers

The Florida Panthers have done some serious work this offseason to keep their back-to-back Stanley Cup team together — re-signing Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad was incredible work for GM Bill Zito.

But all that has currently left them $3.725 million over the salary cap. For the summer, teams can exceed the cap by 10% (for this season, that would be $9.55 million), so all is fine for now. But come opening night of the regular season (October 7th, 2025), they must be cap-compliant. Something's gotta give.

A number of pundits have suggested this summer that something could be middle-six forward Evan Rodrigues. He's been a key part of the two Cup-winning teams, consistently adding secondary scoring from all parts of the lineup, and his playoff contributions have been significant. He produced 15 points in 21 games this past postseason, and another 15 points in 24 games in their first Cup run. And all with a +9 rating.

Evan Rodrigues could be a cap casualty for the Florida Panthers

The 32-year-old has a $3 million cap hit for each of the next two seasons, and while that's good value indeed for what he produces, it's a chunk of change the Panthers could use to get their salary cap in order.

Dan Rosen of nhl.com confirmed on Wednesday that conversations are indeed being had:

Rodrigues certainly is a trade candidate seeing that his contract has a reported $3 million AAV. There's ZERO DOUBT here that teams already have, currently are, or soon will be inquiring about his availability. He's a valuable, versatile, veteran player the Panthers do not take for granted. Unfortunately, losing him might be the price Florida has to pay (for re-signing all those top vets).

The only thing that could save Rodrigues's tenure in South Florida—if only temporarily—would be if Matthew Tkachuk is placed on LTIR to start the season, taking his $9.5 million off the cap for the time being, and making the Panthers cap compliant.

But that's only for as long as it takes Tkachuk to return to the lineup. At that point, Rodrigues could find himself squarely back on the trade block, if he hasn't already been dealt.

The 10-year veteran registered 27 goals and 71 points total in his two years with the Cats, with a +22 rating.