Cody Eakin
A versatile and tenacious forward who carved out a 12-season NHL career, known for his responsible two-way play and key faceoff wins.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 24·Millennials
Biography
Cody Eakin's path to the NHL was that of a determined grinder, not a top-draft pick. Selected in the third round, he honed his game in the Western Hockey League, where his speed and defensive diligence stood out. His professional breakthrough came not with the team that drafted him, but after a trade to the Dallas Stars. In Dallas, he evolved into a reliable middle-six center, valued for his penalty-killing and ability to match up against opposing top lines. His journey reached its peak in the improbable 2018 Stanley Cup Final run with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, where he was a foundational piece of the team's identity—a testament to his work ethic. Eakin's game was built on consistency and intelligence, allowing him to sustain a long career across several franchises as a player coaches could trust in crucial defensive situations.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cody was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cody Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Cody's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a central role for the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural 2017-18 season, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final.
- Recorded a career-high 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in the 2015-16 season with the Dallas Stars.
- Won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships.
- Appeared in over 700 regular-season NHL games across six different teams.
Did You Know?
He scored the first-ever playoff goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the 2018 first round against the Los Angeles Kings.
In junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos, he was a teammate of fellow NHL player Justin Dowling.
He was known for an unusual pre-game ritual of eating a specific brand of peanut butter.
His junior number, 21, was retired by the Swift Current Broncos in 2023.
“My role is to win face-offs and kill penalties.”
