Dallas Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the club has acquired forward Cody Eakin and Washington’s second-round selection (54th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for center Mike Ribeiro.
Eakin, 21, is a native of Winnipeg, Man., and started the 2011-12 season with the Hershey Bears, Washington’s affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Eakin posted 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points with a plus-4 rating in 43 games with Hershey.
He made his NHL debut on Nov. 1, 2011, vs. Anaheim, and on Nov. 4 in his second NHL game, Eakin earned his first two NHL points posting one goal and one assist against the Carolina Hurricanes. In total, he scored four goals and four assists for eight points in 30 games for the Capitals in 2011-12.
“Cody Eakin is a young, competitive player who we’ve had our eye on for some time,” said Nieuwendyk. “He plays a solid two-way game and epitomizes the ‘hard to play against’ mentality we’re building our team around. Cody’s future is bright, and we’re excited to add him to our club.”
The 6-foot-0, 190-pound center was Washington’s third-round selection (85th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut with Hershey in 2009-10, notching two goals in four regular-season games. He also appeared in five playoff games as the Bears won the Calder Cup.
As a 14-year-old in 2006, Eakin participated as a "Future Star" in the AHL All-Star Skills Competition, held in Winnipeg.
