COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Earlier this season, we covered Evan Rodrigues and his dazzling start despite being forced into a prominent role in the Penguins' top-six and number one power play unit due to injuries.
I warned that Rodrigues' breakout, while immensely encouraging, probably wouldn't hold up to such a drastic extent over a longer period of time.
Over a month later, and nearly 30 games into the season, he has solidified himself as a viable top-line winger alongside Sidney Crosby.
In fact, viable would be an understatement. He hasn't just filled in, he's been a driving force and a big part of the Penguins' current position in the standings.
The rate at which he is producing chances individually, as well as for his linemates, has increased since the start of the season:
HockeyViz.com
That giant pool of lava means the Penguins are generating tons of attempts from pretty much everywhere in the offensive zone when Rodrigues is on the ice at five-on-five.
There are only three NHL forwards (Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk) that have been on the ice for more five-on-five shot attempts per hour than Rodrigues (73.2), via Evolving Hockey.
Rodrigues ranks first on the Penguins in all-situations individual shot attempts per hour with 18, second in expected goals per hour with 1.25, and third with 1.13 goals per hour.
That's right -- Rodrigues is actually underperforming expectations in the goal department based off the quality of the chances he's created.
Don't get it twisted, that speaks more to the sheer number of looks he's creating than it does to his ability to bury the puck, as the rate at which he scores puts him inside the top 100 among NHL forwards.
Not bad for a player that was dubbed unworthy of a roster spot on a basement-dwelling Buffalo team just a couple years ago.
Since we've already been over Rodrigues' ability to transition the puck and make plays, let's take a look at the shooting mechanics that have him on pace for nearly three times his previous career-high in goals.
ALL IN THE LEGS
Shooting a hockey puck, swinging a baseball bat, and hitting a golf ball are all similar in the sense that a big chunk of your power is generated from your legs, and more specifically, the weight transfer that takes place from one leg to another.
The transfer creates a mini-explosion, especially when the strike-point of the puck or ball takes place smack-dab in the middle of it.
It's the same way we've seen Alex Ovechkin score a gazillion goals from his office at the left circle.
Rodrigues isn't to be confused with the greatest goal-scorer the game has ever seen, but he does apply the same principles:
While the puck approached Rodrigues' wheelhouse, he loaded all of his weight onto his back leg. As he went to strike the puck, he nearly jumped from his back leg to his front leg, while kicking up his back leg in the process. This forced him to put all of his weight on his plant leg out front, which allowed for a cleaner transfer as well as more flex on his stick to whip the puck.
Of course, power alone won't beat an NHL netminder. Props to Rodrigues for perfectly placing the shot in the top-right corner.
Maintaining accuracy on slap shots and one-timers is a difficult task, but being in control of your legs certainly helps:
Notice how Rodrigues opened his front hip as he prepared for blastoff. Not only did this create space for his arms to operate away from his body during the shot, but it put all of his weight on his back leg, setting up a powerful transfer back to his front leg on the followthrough.
As a bit of a side note, I love that the Penguins finally have a right-handed one-timer threat.
Phil Kessel hardly, if ever, took them -- and how could he? His stick was floppier than a pool noodle.
Bryan Rust? Nope.
It will create an interesting dynamic upon Evgeni Malkin's return to the lineup as Kris Letang will have the option to feed one-timer passes to both the left and right circles on the power play.
CALCULATED HESITATION
Far too many lower-skilled hockey players throw away opportunities by shooting the puck too soon or simply throwing the puck away before a lane or option has time to develop.
Rodrigues has mastered the art of hesitating when he doesn't like what he sees quite yet:
My favorite part of this goal -- other than it being visually satisfying -- is how Rodrigues received the puck.
Instead of receiving the puck out in front, Rodrigues positioned himself to receive the puck in his hip pocket, immediately making him a threat to shoot or rifle a cross-ice pass.
Even though he was in shooting position upon the puck hitting his blade, Rodrigues smartly hesitated, allowing for a skater from each team to block the goaltender's vision. As soon as the sightline was gone, Rodrigues found the shooting lane and wired the puck to the back of the net.
He scored in nearly identical fashion against Toronto earlier in the season:
With a ton of open ice and plenty of room to shoot, Rodrigues opted to hang onto the puck an extra moment while working to the middle.
Toronto's defenders predictably collapsed to the slot, and ultimately created too much chaos in front of their netminder as Rodrigues waited for the perfect lane to open up. The puck almost certainly would have found shin pads on its way to the net had he not delayed.
Also make note of Rodrigues' top hand on his stick and where it was positioned. By getting his top hand out in front of his body and away from his hip, he created leverage to snap that hand back as he slung the puck forward.
Even below the faceoff dots, Rodrigues isn't afraid to hang onto the puck an extra second to create the lane he wants:
Vancouver's winger gave Rodrigues a fly-by in anticipation of a pass back to the point, so Rodrigues used the open ice to walk toward the net with the puck in his hip pocket.
Because the puck was in his hip pocket, Vancouver's defenseman tensed up to block Rodrigues' attempt, only for him to delay the shot for a split second. Before releasing the puck, Rodrigues quickly brought the puck closer to his body, indicating to the goaltender that he was going for the ol' short-side curl and drag.
But instead of going short-side, Rodrigues changed the angle of his blade and let the puck roll off the toe to go far-side. Vancouver's goalie looked downright bewildered at the placement.
It's the exact same way Rodrigues was able to beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a partial-breakaway:
Pay special attention to the angle of Rodrigues' blade as he started the motion of his shot. It was angled down and nearly closed over top of the puck.
He didn't tip his pitch until the very last possible second, as he once again let the puck roll off the toe of his blade to change the angle and go slightly against the grain with his placement.
Rodrigues' development into a two-way play-driving prowess has positioned the Penguins nicely if they are ever able to get the majority of their regulars healthy; it's just a giant bonus that he's a legitimate threat to beat you on his own at any given time.
