The son of Grant "Butch" Eakin, an eighth-round selection (No. 128) by the Cleveland Barons in the 1977 NHL Draft who carved out a minor-league career as a hard-nosed defensive forward, Cody plays the same gritty style his father once played.

The difference in their games comes when Cody has the puck on his stick.

In addition to being both defensively sound and tough enough to play the role of a checking-line center, which he did for the majority of his first four years in the NHL, Eakin can contribute offensively as well.

A consistent scorer with the Dallas Stars, Eakin was promoted to first-line center after Tyler Seguin was injured late in the 2015-16 season. He responded by ranking third on the Stars in Stanley Cup Playoff scoring with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 13 games. Eakin's lone goal during the 2016 playoffs was an overtime winner against the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Eakin came to Dallas on June 22, 2012, in a trade following his rookie season with Washington Capitals, who selected him in the third round (No. 85) in the 2009 NHL Draft. Eakin made his NHL debut on Nov. 1, 2011, against the Anaheim Ducks and scored his first NHL goal and assist three nights later in his second game, a 5-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

His breakout season came when he had 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 81 games during the 2013-14 season. He followed that with 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 2014-15 and a 35-point season (16 goals, 19 assists) in 2015-16.

But after being limited to 60 games and 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 2016-17, when he missed time with a knee injury, Eakin was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He stepped into a regular role as a checking center, but also contributed 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 80 games to help Vegas finish first in the Pacific Division. Eakin had NHL career highs in goals (22) and points (41) with Vegas in 2018-19.

A native of Winnipeg, where his father became a police officer following his hockey career, Eakin played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League for Swift Current, who moved from Lethbridge, where Eakin's father and his former Stars coach Lindy Ruff were teammates in the late-70s. He came back to his hometown when he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 21, 2020.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• WHL East Second All-Star Team (2010, 2011)
• Traded to Dallas by Washington with Boston's 2nd round pick (previously acquired, Dallas selected Mike Winther) in 2012 NHL Draft for Mike Ribeiro. June 22, 2012.
• Claimed by Vegas from Dallas in Expansion Draft, June 21, 2017.
• Traded to Winnipeg by Vegas for a conditional pick in 2021 NHL Draft, February 21, 2020.
• Signed as a free agent by Buffalo, October 10, 2020.