The Florida Panthers knew they could not keep every piece of a roster that delivered consecutive Stanley Cup championships, but that reality did not make the departures any easier.
Matthew Tkachuk has watched several trusted teammates move on as the organization reshapes its lineup for another title chase, and one trade clearly hit closer to home than the others.
While the Panthers turned the page with a significant deal, Tkachuk made it clear that replacing what one veteran brought to the locker room will be far from simple.
Matthew Tkachuk Calls Evan Rodrigues a Panthers Legend in Farewell After Devils Trade
Speaking on the latest episode of Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk did not hide his emotions while discussing Evan Rodrigues’ move to the New Jersey Devils.
Rodrigues was included in the blockbuster trade that sent him, Jesper Boqvist, and prospect Ben Steeves to New Jersey in exchange for veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank.
The deal helps Florida reshape its roster and salary structure, but Tkachuk believes it also ends the Panthers chapter for one of the team’s unsung heroes.
Looking back on their championship runs together, Tkachuk praised Rodrigues for doing whatever the team needed on any given night. “E-Rod, both Finals, both playoff runs, honestly, all the time, he’s such a Swiss Army knife,” Tkachuk said.
He followed that praise with a message for Devils fans, saying, “New Jersey is getting a good one,” before revealing that he immediately reached out to Jack Hughes and told him, “Dude, you’re going to love playing with this guy. He’s awesome.”
Tkachuk saved his strongest praise for Rodrigues’ playoff performances, saying, “We are not winning the Cup without him. He was that good.” He described Rodrigues as more than an important contributor on the ice, calling him “such a great guy” and “a great culture guy” whose personality helped define Florida’s championship locker room.
Tkachuk admitted it was “really, really sad to see him go” and shared that one of his first messages after the trade read, “I really hope our paths can cross again at some point.”
For New Jersey, the acquisition provides immediate versatility and championship experience.
Rodrigues enters the final season of his contract with a manageable $3.075 million cap hit and is expected to step into a prominent top-nine role alongside a talented Devils core led by Jack Hughes.
His ability to play either center or wing while contributing on both special teams units gives New Jersey another reliable option for a team looking to take the next step.
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Florida’s motivation centered on more than replacing a forward. The trade brought back Markstrom, who is expected to assume the No. 1 goaltending role after Sergei Bobrovsky’s departure, while helping the Panthers manage their salary cap following major offseason additions.
