The Avalanche signed veteran defenseman Jack Johnson to a one-year, league-minimum contract extension Sunday, but they aren’t bringing back top-six forward Evan Rodrigues next season.
Rodrigues agreed to a four-year deal with the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. His average annual value was reported to be $3 million, a sturdy boost in salary and term from his one-year, $2 million contract in Colorado.
Coming from Pittsburgh, Rodrigues scored 39 points (16 goals) in 69 games for the Avs last season. He was one of only four forwards on the roster to gather five points in Colorado’s seven-game first-round playoff series.