Evan Rodrigues, a pivotal player in the Florida Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, now faces an uncertain future as the team grapples with salary cap constraints. With a cap hit of $3,000,000, Rodrigues could be the key player moved to balance the roster following the recent re-signings of Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, which have pushed the Panthers approximately $3.725 million over the cap limit.

Despite his desire to remain in Florida and the team's interest in keeping him, Rodrigues' position is precarious. The Panthers' need to comply with salary cap regulations by the upcoming season complicates matters. The potential for placing an injured player like Matthew Tkachuk on Long-Term Injury Reserve exists, but it is merely a temporary fix, delaying Rodrigues' likely trade until the season begins.