Buffalo rebuild an enticement for BU's Rodrigues

By foxsports
Published

The Buffalo Sabres are a bit of a mess after a lost season in which they tanked in the hopes of landing top prospect Connor McDavid only to fall short in the draft lottery and settle for the second overall draft pick. Buffalo also traded most of its players during the season in order to help build for the future, meaning the Sabres might be in development mode for the next few years.

So it's easy to wonder why any top free agent would want to come to Buffalo. For newly signed NCAA free agent Evan Rodrigues, his interest in Buffalo was due to all of the above reasons.

"The biggest thing was just opportunity," Rodrigues said during an appearance on WGR 550 radio Thursday. "They’re in a bit of a rebuild and it’s a place that just felt right, that I could go in and really showcase my talents. The opportunity was there. I don’t think there was as much of an opportunity anywhere else."

Rodrigues just finished his senior season at Boston University where he played on a line with Buffalo's likely draft pick Jack Eichel. Rodrigues finished the year with 61 points in 41 games, good for second in Division I hockey behind Eichel. 

Rodrigues said Eichel did not know Rodrigues would sign with Buffalo until after the year was over, and he also said he would leave it up to Eichel as to whether the freshman should leave school for the NHL next year.

"I would tell him to follow his gut," Rodrigues said during the appearance on WGR 550. "From my perspective from what I’ve seen all year I think he’s ready, but he has to be comfortable."

(h/t WGR 550)