Cody Eakin

Lore & Background

Eakin was left exposed by the Dallas Stars and chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017. In his first season with Vegas, he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 80 games. The team reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, falling in five games to Eakin's former club, the Washington Capitals. During the 2018 playoffs, Eakin scored 3 goals in 20 games.

In the 2019 playoffs, the Golden Knights faced the San Jose Sharks in the first round. In Game 7 on April 23, Eakin cross-checked Joe Pavelski in the chest following a faceoff. Pavelski landed awkwardly on his head, leading the referees to issue Eakin a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, despite neither official seeing the infraction; they mistakenly assumed Pavelski had been checked in the head. At the time, Vegas led 3–0 with just over ten minutes remaining, but the Sharks scored four goals on the ensuing power play. Vegas tied the game but lost 5–4 in overtime, eliminating the Golden Knights. According to Golden Knights general manager George McPhee, the league called days later to apologize for the call, and the referees did not officiate another game in the remainder of the 2019 playoffs.

Eakin struggled offensively in the 2019–20 season, posting just 10 points through 41 games. On February 21, 2020, he was traded by the Golden Knights to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2021 conditional fourth-round pick.

Reader's Guide

Cody Eakin's tenure with the Vegas Golden Knights is most notable for his selection in the 2017 Expansion Draft and his role in a controversial playoff moment. As one of the original Golden Knights, he contributed to the team's unexpected run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, scoring 11 goals and 27 points in the regular season and adding 3 goals in the playoffs. However, his legacy with the franchise is indelibly tied to Game 7 of the 2019 first-round series against the San Jose Sharks. His cross-check on Joe Pavelski resulted in a five-minute major penalty that allowed the Sharks to erase a 3–0 deficit and win in overtime, eliminating Vegas. The call was later acknowledged as mistaken by the league, which apologized to the team. Eakin's offensive production declined the following season, leading to his trade to the Winnipeg Jets in February 2020. His time in Vegas thus encapsulates both the highs of an expansion team's early success and the lasting impact of a single, disputed officiating decision.

Did You Know?

• Eakin was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft after being left exposed by the Dallas Stars.
• In Game 7 of the 2019 playoffs, Eakin's cross-check on Joe Pavelski led to a five-minute major penalty; the league later apologized for the call.
• Eakin scored his first NHL goal on November 4, 2011, against Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes.
• He was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2015 World Championships.