The Colorado Avalanche have signed versatile forward Evan Rodrigues to a one-year contract worth $2M.

The Avs get: a solid middle-sixer who can slot in at any forward position. Rodrigues truly flourished with the Penguins last season when both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were injured. Once they returned, the dynamic changed. And even with increased ice time and PP time (versus prior to last season), he was unable to come close to those numbers again. Even with Crosby and Jake Guentzel as linemates!

Rodrigues had 30 points in his first 32 games. When the team really needed an offensive leader, he became their guy. But once he was second fiddle, his production dipped to just 13 points in 50 games. He really needs to be leaned on in order to put up the numbers.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Rodrigues couldn't have found a better landing spot. The Avalanche are looking to replace Nazem Kadri on their top power play, and while they always seem to turn back to JT Compher, one wonders if Rodrigues will get a look there. And on that power play – watch out. But the smart money is on him simply seeing third-line minutes and secondary PP time. He'll see spurts of production whenever a player like Mikko Rantanen and/or Nathan MacKinnon get injured, but otherwise the numbers will be quite modest.

In the Fantasy Guide I have Rodrigues pegged for 40 points in 70 games. He'll probably eat some ice time and PP time from Artturi Lehkonen, Alex Newhook and Compher.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

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