Freakin’ Eakin: Golden Knights center has wowed since returning from injury

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 | 2 a.m.

Cody Eakin was an outcast on a team of misfits last year during the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season.

Not an outcast in terms of fitting in among the locker room, but in terms of showing out on the ice. While several Golden Knights’ players put together career years en route to a Stanley Cup Final run, Eakin had a campaign that fell more in line with his personal averages, if not slightly below them.

It wasn’t until late in the regular season and playoffs that he found his rhythm, a form the 27-year-old third-line center was determined to carry into his second year in Vegas.

“I couldn’t wait to get going,” Eakin said earlier this week. “I wanted to pick up where we left off.”

Unfortunately for the former Dallas Star, that became impossible after suffering a lower-body injury late in training camp that caused him to miss the first three games of the regular season. But he’s since recovered and not only continued on last year’s late success, but eclipsed it.

Eakin has been the Golden Knights’ most electric offensive player since returning to the lineup last Wednesday in Washington. He’s scored three goals in four games, including the game-winner in each of the last two.

“When you’re hot, you’re hot,” William Karlsson said of Eakin. “It’s good to see for him. He came in a few games late, and he’s been one of the best.”

It’s been a far cry from the middle of last year when Eakin went on a 25-game scoreless streak. Growing pains with trying to acclimate to a new team are nothing unique, but any struggles were magnified last season with the Golden Knights competing for a Pacific Division title and playoff positioning.

Some fans coined Eakin, “Freakin’ Eakin,” in a derogatory way as a way to curse any mishaps that occurred while he was on the ice. Eakin’s Golden Knights teammates were never as concerned.

Ryan Carpenter was impressed with Eakin immediately despite joining Vegas from San Jose at the height of his new linemate’s offensive disappearance. Carpenter says Eakin makes it easy for those who play alongside him.

“He just does all the little things right and works really hard,” Carpenter said. “He’s also really fast, and that’s the identity of our team. We try to play a fast game and he leads us, leads that third line.”

Many of the Golden Knights stressed needing to speed up before Eakin’s return. Those concerns have come up less over the last couple games.

While Eakin deflects any of the credit, he admits that he thinks Vegas looked a little sluggish by its standards over the first week of the season and needs to continue focusing on pressing the pace. It’s a responsibility he naturally puts on his shoulders during his shifts.

“I try to play at one speed — as fast and as hard as I can,” Eakin said. “Obviously, under control and bringing some energy but it’s just one of those things for me.”

It’s ironic that Eakin may have sparked the Golden Knights to move a little quicker considering it’s the one area of his game he de-emphasized during the offseason. Eakin took the least amount of time off he’s ever taken before this season, and instead kept skating through the summer and working on strength parts of his game.

He says it’s translated to the ice, as that’s where he’s felt the biggest difference from last year since coming off injured reserve.

“My speed is there but my first, quick step isn’t quite where I want them to be at yet, but power-wise, coming out of the corners and stuff, I feel all right,” Eakin said. “I like where I’m at now, and I’ll continue to get better.”

Most have always considered Eakin a defensive-minded forward, meaning any offense the Golden Knights get out of him is somewhat of a bonus. And they’ve gotten plenty, from his wraparound goal against the Capitals to a sprint from the neutral zone for a shorthanded score in a win over the Sabres earlier this week.

Fans are calling him “Freakin’ Eakin” again, but it’s taken on a different meaning. The nickname is now a show of praise — an exclamation for the increasingly common big plays Eakin has produced.

“Eaks, from the trade deadline last year all the way to the playoffs and up to this year has played real good, real strong hockey and has probably added a little more offense than I thought he had,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “I really like what he’s doing. He’s played really well since his injury.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.