Jeff Marek joined the Sekeres and Price show and discussed the possible fit if the Vancouver Canucks attempted to trade for Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues. Marek also touched upon the difficulty of pulling off a move due to the Panthers' eagerness to find a way to keep him with the team.

As the Panthers players take turns spending a day with the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, the Panthers front office remains busy, tirelessly working to find a way to keep the current roster intact for the 2025-26 season.

At the moment, it seems impossible.

Following the one-year contract handed out to Mackie Samoskevich, the Panthers are $3.725 million over the salary cap limit. Matthew Tkachuk is nursing a major injury, which could land him on the long-term injury reserve to start the season, but the 27-year-old will return, and someone will have to give way to ice a legal team. 

With the team's current outlook, Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist are expected to be traded, as both are on contracts that expire after the 2026-27 season. Moving the pair of forwards would be the easiest deals for GM Bill Zito to make, but Marek believes he is doing everything in his power to keep him on the roster.

"The thing about the Florida Panthers is, I think they are trying to do whatever it takes, and Evan Rodrigues is giving them as much as they need to make that work," said Marek. "He wants to be there, they want him there; however, Bill Zito can do this. I think they want to make Evan Rodrigues work there."

It's not shocking that the Panthers would love to keep the 31-year-old with the organization. Since joining the Panthers, Rodrigues has played 162 games, scoring 27 goals and 71 points. He's also recorded 15 points in consecutive playoff runs. 

Rodrigues is a skilled forward who works impressively hard off of the puck. Listed at just 5-foot-11, Rodrigues doesn't exactly fit the mould of the Panthers' lineup, but he plays with heart and edge, something HC Paul Maurice and the Panthers value highly. His versatility to play anywhere in the lineup has also proven to be a valuable asset, something they could struggle to replace.

Examining Brad Marchand contract with Panthers amid cap circumvention complaints There was an equal amount of shock and awe to go around for those following the Florida Panthers free agency situation this offseason.

What Does Mackie Samoskevich's Future Look Like With The Panthers? The Florida Panthers and general manager Bill Zito shocked the hockey world when they re-signed <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/florida-panthers-sign-sam-bennett-to-8-year-contract-extension">Sam Bennett</a>, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/report-aaron-ekblad-staying-with-panthers-on-long-term-extension">Aaron Ekblad</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-to-sign-brad-marchand-to-multi-year-extension-per-report">Brad Marchand</a> on deals that are far lower than what they could have obtained on the open market.