Evan Rodrigues’ villain arc goes viral after Edmonton Oilers fans boo him and he smiles back

Some athletes shy away from the spotlight. Evan Rodrigues? He practically asked Edmonton to boo louder. During Game 2 pregame intros of the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers forward was met with loud jeers from Oilers fans and his reaction is now going viral.

Instead of ignoring it, Rodrigues smirked, nodded, and soaked it all in like a villain in a hockey movie. What came next? Pure playoff carnage.

Evan Rodrigues embraces the villain arc during pregame boos in Edmonton

The moment Edmonton fans started booing Evan Rodrigues during his Game 2 intro, he didn’t flinch, he flourished. Cameras caught the Panthers forward acknowledging the noise with a grin and a confident nod, instantly earning him "villain era" status online. Fans were living for the energy and so was he.

Rodrigues’ smile didn’t just go viral, it triggered X (Twitter) into full playoff mode. Some fans were hyped, others confused, and a few downright unhinged (in the funniest way). One user said, “That’s the attitude 🤣,” while another joked, “He’s got a kid in his basement wtf was that lick.” Others called him “zesty,” “ready,” or just straight-up “terrifying.”Then came the chirps from Oilers fans: “Did he even play tonight?” and “Only Toronto has a more garbage fanbase.”

One fan just screamed: “Get the video of him leaving the ice!”Whether love or hate, Rodrigues had the internet talking exactly what you want as a playoff villain.Rodrigues’ reaction was part swagger, part troll, and all playoff magic. It was clear from that moment: he came to own the narrative.Some even compared it to classic NHL villains of the past. Edmonton fans? Well, they might be booing even harder next game but at this point, that might just be adding more fuel to Rodrigues’ fire.In the playoffs, pressure builds legends and Evan Rodrigues is writing his story loud and clear. Whether it’s the boos or the big goals, he’s proving one thing: this is his ice too.Also read - Edmonton Oilers mix hometown ice into Rogers Place rink for Stanley Cup Final