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Golden Knights acquiring Cody Eakin from Dallas Stars

By Dave Stevenson

Dec 13, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Cody Eakin (20) in action during the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Ducks 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Cody Eakin (20) in action during the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Ducks 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Vegas Golden Knights roster is slowly getting leaked out. Cody Eakin from the Dallas Stars is reportedly a part of it. 

The 2017 NHL Expansion Draft is upon us. Its results will determine the initial roster for the Vegas Golden Knights, the newest NHL team. While the players will be officially announced during the NHL Awards Show on Wednesday, their roster is slowly getting leaked out. Cody Eakin from the Dallas Stars is reportedly a part of it.

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Dallas wasn’t offering anything of significant value to the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. And with the lack of quality forwards exposed, it’s not shocking to see Vegas take a chance on a center coming off a down year.

It’s worth noting Golden Knights general manager George McPhee is no stranger to Eakin. He knows him quite well, as he drafted the center during his tenure with the Washington Capitals. McPhee also traded Eakin to the Stars for Mike Ribeiro right before the 2012-13 season.

Eakin is coming off the least productive season since his rookie year in 2011-12, during which he only played 30 games. He had just three goals and 12 points in 60 games despite getting over 16 minutes of ice time per game. Eakin even got playing time alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin after injuries decimated the Stars’ forward depth.

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Vegas is banking on Eakin rebounding. Over his previous three seasons before the 2016-17 season, he had 110 points. Eakin had two 35-point seasons sandwiching his 2014-15 season, during which he had 40 points. He has three years left on his deal with a $3.85 million cap hit. If Eakin gets back to being a consistently solid defensive center who can add roughly 30 points on the scoresheet, he could be a value for them.

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