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Vegas Golden Knights First Half Report Cards: Forwards

By Richard Cardinale

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the game at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the game at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Cody Eakin

LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 02: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena on January 2, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 02: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena on January 2, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights won 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Knights have a ton of flashy players on their roster, but Cody Eakin is not one of them. That doesn’t mean he’s a terrible player, he’s just a solid third line center that does all the right things. There’s not anything gaudy about his style, but he’s a player Gallant trusts in the last 30 seconds of a game when the Knights are trying to protect a one-goal lead.

He’s a fantastic defensive forward, and he very rarely makes mistakes. He’s used mostly on the penalty kill and when the team needs a big faceoff win. His offensive numbers once again aren’t the best, but they’re serviceable.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has tallied six goals, 12 assists and 18 points in 41 games played. The reason why Gallant stuck Eakin with Brendan Leipsic and Alex Tuch is that they want the two younger players to learn from an experienced veteran the right way to play hockey.

Eakin doesn’t nearly frustrate me as Leipsic does. He serves his role and plays it to near perfection. I can’t ask for much more than that from a third line center. He deserves a solid grade in my book.

Grade: C

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