Advertisement

Cody Eakin gets four-year extension from Dallas Stars

Cody Eakin gets four-year extension from Dallas Stars

Cody Eakin, a.k.a Ginger Ninja, is staying with the Dallas Stars for four more years. Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reported the financial details of the contract extension:

The $3.85-million referenced by Heika is the average annual value. In total, Eakin will be pulling in $15.4-million.

Eakin, 24, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2009. He was traded to the Stars at the 2012 draft for Mike Ribeiro. At the culmination of his entry-level deal, the center was given two more years and $3.8-million total to show he was worth the big bucks.

Apparently he made a big impression Stars GM Jim Nill. Eakin has one year left on his current contract, and would have been an RFA at the end of it. Guess Nill wanted to knock a few things off his future ‘To Do’ list. The deal has no current year cap implications for the Stars who are about $2.9-million away from the ceiling.

When one (outside of Dallas) thinks of the Stars, the name Cody Eakin does not make it into the top five of known players, but he’s been a steadily improving center for the team. This past season, Eakin was fourth on the team in scoring with 40-points (19G, 21A) in 78 games. He tied Jamie Benn for first on the team with six game-winning goals.

Speaking of Benn. The Stars captain wouldn’t have overcome the four point deficit he needed to take the Art Ross trophy at the end of the season without Eakin’s help. Eakin assisted on Benn’s first goal of the game, and in turn, scored the final goal with an assist given to Benn, thus, locking up the trophy. Benn should be buying when it comes to celebrating the center's new contract.

- - - - - - -

Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY: