Rodrigues comes out of protocol on the same day as Jeff Carter goes onto the COVID-19 protocol list. Rodrigues figures to replace Carter on the Penguins' second line on Sunday.
Rodrigues was the only Penguins' player added to the protocol list on Sunday but five more joined him on Monday and it was also announced that Jason Zucker will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. As of now, the Penguins are scheduled to play on Thursday.
Rodrigues was hobbled after being hit by a Mike Matheson shoot on Thursday and will not be available for Saturday's game in Washington. Luckily for the Penguins, they may get Evgeni Malkin and/or Brandon Tanev back. Both are listed as game-time decisions.
Rodrigues has missed the last 16 games with a lower-body injury but is expected to play Saturday afternoon vs. the Flyers. Rodrigues will replace Anthony Angello, who was sent to the taxi squad.
Rodrigues left Sunday's game vs. the Rangers with a lower-body injury that he suffered in a collision with Filip Chytil. The play left both players injured and it is going to keep Rodrigues out "longer term." With Rodrigues hurt, Drew O'Connor will likely make his NHL debut on Tuesday.
Rodrigues was acquired from Buffalo last February and then his rights were flipped to Toronto in the Kasperi Kapanen deal this summer. Toronto did not tender the RFA, so he was free to re-join the Penguins on Friday. Rodrigues had six goals and four assists (10 points) in 45 NHL games last year and GM Jim Rutherford said on Friday that he'll be on the third line with Mark Jankowski and Jared McCann to start 2021.
Rodrigues spent five years in the Sabres organization after signing as an undrafted free-agent in 2015. The 26-year-old has spent the majority of his career playing in Buffalo’s bottom-six, compiling 26 goals and 45 assists in 192 career games. He is set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st.
With Jeff Skinner returning from an upper-body injury on Tuesday, Rodrigues will be scratched for the sixth time in 10 games. It's been a disastrous season for the 26-year-old, who has just two goals and three assists (five points) in 28 games.
Rodrigues has been a healthy scratch for the last four games but will replace Scott Wilson in the lineup on Saturday afternoon. He's had a disastrous season, failing to score a goal with just three assists in 24 games.
Rodrigues was not on the ice for Friday's practice and is officially day-to-day with a lower-body ailment. With Rodrigues, Jack Eichel and Johan Larsson all dealing with injuries, the Sabres may need to recall a forward for Saturday.
Rodrigues played just 0:40 TOI in Sunday's win over the Panthers, which left the Sabres with just 10 forwards after dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen. With Rodrigues hurt, the Sabres recalled J-S Dea from Rochester on Monday morning and he will likely make his season debut in Rodrigues' place.
Rodrigues appeared in the last three games but will come out of the lineup with Jimmy Vesey ready to return on Saturday. Rodrigues has just one assist in seven games this season, with that helper coming in his last game.
Rodrigues has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the regular season but will draw into the lineup on Wednesday. With Conor Sheary day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Rodrigues will skate on the third line with Casey Mittelstadt and Jimmy Vesey.
Rodrigues had nine goals and 20 assists (29 points) in 74 games during his first full NHL season in 2018-19. With bigger named prospects faltering around him, Rodrigues settled into a middle-6 role with the Sabres and finished the season ranked fourth among Buffalo forwards in TOI/GP (15:49). Entering the 2020 season, Rodrigues will once again be battling with Casey Mittelstadt for the No.2 centre role.
