{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/csHCYgS1.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Drew O'Connor discusses his move back up to the Pittsburgh Penguins second line to play with Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/csHCYgS1-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/csHCYgS1.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/csHCYgS1.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 182, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 348905, "filesize": 4056031, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 272, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 510158, "filesize": 5930590, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 724, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1403806, "filesize": 16319253, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113583, "filesize": 1320408 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 362, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 538997, "filesize": 6265846, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/csHCYgS1-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 544, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 900823, "filesize": 10472078, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Finding consistent forward depth has been a challenge for the Pittsburgh Penguins the past few seasons. Jeff Carter is the only bottom-six forward on the Penguins that has been with the organization at the NHL level since 2021-22. Meanwhile, one of his former linemates is having a career season with the Florida Panthers." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Evan Rodrigues had played in parts of four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres to begin his career before joining the Penguins in 2019-20. Rodrigues was in and out of the lineup in Pittsburgh before establishing himself during the 2021-22 season." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rodrigues stepped up for an injured Penguins team to score 30 points (15G-15A) in the first 33 games of that season. He struggled to find consistency for the remainder of the year, scoring just four goals and 13 points in the final 49 games." } }, { "id": "p1iflwo6-gossqft5", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1479276535035187201", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1479276535035187201", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His inconsistencies were enough for the Penguins to move on in free agency, letting him walk to the defending champion Colorado Avalanche. Rodrigues filled a similar role in Colorado, sliding into different positions to aid the banged-up Avalanche lineup." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "This past offseason, Rodrigues signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Florida Panthers and has become a household name in his first season with the club. The 30-year-old winger has scored 24 points (7G-17A) in 36 games and has found a home on the Panthers' first forward line with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "That line leads the NHL with a +19 goal differential when on the ice at 5v5 this season. They also rank 5th in the NHL in expected goals percentage (62.1%) among forward lines with at least 150 minutes of ice time." } }, { "id": "3s69f88e-g2q0k4a2", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1740895921976889692", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1740895921976889692", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rodrigues is on pace for a career-high 55 points this season, surpassing his 43-point performance with the Penguins in 2021-22. Once seen as a \"throw-in\" for a trade involving Conor Sheary and Dominik Kahun, Rodrigues has become a bonafide top-six forward for one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference." } }, { "id": "v40ehs72-zcnyr9ec", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "playlist.megaphone.fm", "source": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB1087137078", "embed": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB1087137078", "caption": "", "height": "200", "width": "100%" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i3z6L2DUJg[/embed]" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bryan Rust Nearing Return to Penguins Lineup" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Enter New Year as Hottest Team in NHL" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Defenseman Details Game-Opening Fight" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Ward off Islanders to Finish 2023 in Win Column" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Radim Zohorna Scratched from Penguins Lineup" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

Former Penguins Winger Flourishing With Panthers