Undrafted 7th year center Evan Rodrigues(9) grabs a 1st career NHL hat trick, pushing his totals for 2021/2022 to a new high of 15 goals with a +8 rating for his team of the last few seasons, Pittsburgh Penguins.
He has worked very hard for any advantages he’s enjoyed after scoring big in his senior year at Boston University Terriers with 21 goals and 41 assists in 41 NCAA Division 1 games with a +30 rating.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was given a two-year entry level deal by Buffalo Sabres, but not called up until the last couple games of his rookie season and scored a goal and an assist with a +2 to say hello.
He would almost evenly split his time between leagues in his sophomore run to earn another two years with the 2nd of the two as a one-way contract, but didn’t matter as he made the team out of training camp in his 3rd run.
In the 2nd year, he would be traded to Pens and finished with a goal in 7 games.
Almost oddly, he was made to wait and didn’t sign until just before 6th season, but would come together decently for 7 goals and 7 assists in 35 games.
The 27-year old is quite possibly just getting started despite earning well for his 265 games played.