PHILADELPHIA -Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice won't have Cody Eakin in the line-up today against the Philadelphia Flyers, but he's excited at what the 28-year-old will bring to the group when he joins the team for tomorrow's tilt in Buffalo.
"We wanted a guy that can make his regular season game wired to get ready for the playoffs. He knows we're playing important games right now," said Maurice. "That's the way he's built to play. He's at his best in that big game, energy and edge kind of game. He's coming into it here in Winnipeg."
Outside of his first NHL season with the Washington Capitals in 2011-12, Eakin has spent his entire career in the Western Conference. When the National Hockey League re-aligned the four divisions and put the Jets into the Central with the Dallas Stars to begin the 2013-14, Eakin was a familiar opponent.
Maurice likes Eakin's defensive game, plans to start him at centre
"He's at his best in that big game, energy and edge kind of game." -Maurice
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