Two Big Avalanche Connections On Cup Winning Panthers Team

Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before – the Colorado Avalanche might have really missed out by letting Evan Rodrigues go. The 30 year old forward, who left the Avalanche to sign with the Florida Panthers last summer, appears to have made the right decision for himself, as he’s now a Stanley Cup champion.

He’s not the only person in that Panthers organization with ties to the Avalanche either.

Of course, I’ve written a lot about Rodrigues over the last few weeks. Before the Stanley Cup Final started, I said he was the one that got away from Colorado, as his ability to play anywhere in the top nine would have been extremely useful last season and moving forward. Rodrigues made me look pretty good, as he was arguably Florida’s most consistent forward against the Edmonton Oilers. He finished the playoffs with 15 points in 24 games, but seven of those points came in the Stanley Cup Final. Saving the best for last, I guess. He’s always been a streaky guy, so I guess he chose the right time to get hot.

Rodrigues was a pleasure to speak to when he was in Colorado, and I’m always happy when nice guys come out on top. Plus, his first name isn’t so bad either.

The other connection to the Avalanche on the Panthers comes from their coaching staff. Remember Sylvain Lefebvre? A valuable defensive defenseman on the 1996 Cup winning team in Colorado, he also spent a few years behind the bench as Joe Sacco’s assistant from 2009-2012. He just so happens to be one of the assistant coaches in Florida, and is in charge of running their defense. That defense managed to do just enough to slow down Connor McDavid in Games Six and Seven, and that’s why they’re world champions right now.

Congratulations to both Rodrigues and Lefebvre on winning the Stanley Cup. Now, onto the off-season, where the Avalanche and every other team in the league try to dethrone the Panthers.