The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Evan Rodrigues is a player who could be on the move, not because of his value to the Florida Panthers, but because they may not be able to be able to get under the salary cap after re-signing center Sam Bennett, winger Brad Marchand, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers are currently nearly $4 million over the cap, but the health status of Matthew Tkachuk to start the season may give GM Bill Zito a bit of a reprieve. 

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The Toronto native was a teammate of Jack Eichel at Boston University when he signed with the Sabres as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He had limited success in Buffalo over four seasons before being traded by GM Jason Botterill to Pittsburgh just before the COVID shutdown. With the Penguins, Colorado, and in two years with Florida, the 32-year-old has averaged over 15 goals a season, and was a key performer for the Panthers in consecutive Cup victories.  

What Would It Cost?

With Zito’s cap issues and the fact that Florida is light on draft capital the next two seasons, the Panthers could be looking for a high draft pick or a prospect on their entry-level deal who could play in the AHL and come up at some point over the next year or two. A youngster like Josh Doan or Noah Ostlund would fit that criteria. 

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