Patrick Campbell Eaves (born May 1, 1984) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks.

Patrick Eaves
Eaves with the Dallas Stars in 2014
Born (1984-05-01) May 1, 1984 (age 39)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Ottawa Senators
Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit Red Wings
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Anaheim Ducks
NHL Draft 29th overall, 2003
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2005–2019

Born in Calgary, Alberta, when his father, Mike was a member of the Calgary Flames, Eaves was raised in Faribault, Minnesota and holds both Canadian and American citizenship[1] and represented the United States in international ice hockey tournaments.

Playing career edit

Amateur edit

Eaves attended Shattuck-St Mary's School which is an Episcopal Church-affiliated boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota. He played his collegiate hockey at Boston College. After a very good freshman year the Senators drafted him 29th overall in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played two more years with the Eagles, where he won several awards, including Hockey East Player of the Year, earned All-America and All-Conference first-team honors, and was a Hobey Baker Finalist. Also during that time he represented his country at the 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, tallied one goal and five assists in six games. In 2005, he decided to leave Boston College to sign with the Ottawa Senators.

Professional edit

Ottawa Senators edit

Eaves started the 2005–06 season with the Binghamton Senators in the AHL, and after a good start he was called up to Ottawa, hitting the 20 goal plateau in the NHL. The playoffs, however were a disappointment as they lost to the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.

In the 2006–07 season, Eaves recorded career highs in points (32) and assists (18) which included 10 points (6–4) in 13 games in January. In game three of the first round of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, April 15, 2007, Eaves took a violent shoulder check to the head after coming around the Penguins' net from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Colby Armstrong, causing him to be carried off the ice on a stretcher. He did not return to play the rest of the series. In the Eastern Conference finals against the Buffalo Sabres, Eaves returned to the lineup in the series-deciding game five.

Carolina Hurricanes edit

In the 2007–08 season, Eaves spent much of the season injured. On February 11, 2008, the Senators traded Eaves along with Joe Corvo to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore.[2] On June 4, 2008, he signed a three-year contract with the Hurricanes worth $4.2 million.

In the 2008–09 season, Eaves saw his production drop, recording only 6 goals and 8 assists in 74 games, battling shoulder injuries much of the season.

Detroit Red Wings edit

 
Eaves on his way to his first career hat-trick in a game vs. the Dallas Stars in December 2010.

On July 24, 2009, Eaves was traded by the Hurricanes to the Boston Bruins along with a 2010 fourth-round draft pick in exchange for defenseman Aaron Ward. The Bruins then placed Eaves on waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract.[3] On August 4, 2009, Eaves signed a one-year contract, valued at $500,000, with the Detroit Red Wings.[4] Eaves scored his first goal with the Red Wings in a 6–5 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers on October 29, 2009. In early January, 2010, he scored his 50th career goal against the San Jose Sharks.

On July 7, 2010, Eaves signed a one-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings.[5]

On July 1, 2011, Eaves signed a three-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings.[6] The deal was worth $3.6 million, and had a cap hit of $1.2 million per year.[7]

Eaves played just 10 games in the 2011–12 season before suffering a broken jaw and a concussion in a game against the Nashville Predators on November 26, 2011. Predators defenceman Roman Josi's shot hit him in the side of the face; Eaves missed the rest of the season due to the concussion.[8]

On October 29, 2012, Eaves stated he was "not close" to returning and was still suffering headaches and post-concussion symptoms from the previous year's injury.[9] On January 18, 2013, the Red Wings announced that Eaves was cleared to return to play.[10]

Nashville Predators edit

On March 5, 2014, Eaves was traded to the Nashville Predators, along with Calle Järnkrok, as part of a deal that brought David Legwand to Detroit.[11] Eaves played 5 scoreless games with the Predators to close the 2013–14 season.

 
Eaves with the Dallas Stars signs autographs at Galleria Dallas in 2014.

Dallas Stars edit

Eaves brief tenure with the Predators came to an end on July 1, 2014, when he signed as a free agent to a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars.[12] On July 1, 2015, the Dallas Stars re-signed Eaves to a one-year contract.[13]

In the midst of the 2016–17 season, his third and final year of contract with the Stars, Eaves had already established career highs with 21 goals and 37 points, playing on the top offensive line, alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.

Anaheim Ducks edit

With the Stars languishing in the standings, on February 24, 2017, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2017,[14] which eventually became a first round pick. Upon arrival in Anaheim, Eaves picked up right where he left off with the Stars. He recorded 11 goals and 3 assists to put him well above his previous career best numbers. Eaves played in 7 playoff games with the Ducks before suffering a lower body injury that kept him out for the remainder of the playoffs.

On June 23, 2017, Eaves opted to give up his impending free agent status to sign a three-year, $9.45 million contract to remain with the Ducks.[15] On February 19, 2019, the Ducks placed Eaves on waivers.[16]

Personal life edit

Eaves was born in Calgary, spent some years in Blackwood, New Jersey, and grew up in Faribault, Minnesota. He is the son of former Calgary Flames and Minnesota North Stars standout Mike Eaves, formerly the head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's men's hockey team and current head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate Cleveland Monsters, who coached Patrick at the 2004 World Juniors.

Eaves met his wife Katie in Chicago in 2007 while driving home to Minnesota after his Ottawa Senators lost the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.[17] They married in 2009 and have two daughters born in 2010 and 2012[18][8] a son born in 2013. The family also has a Newfoundland named Reuben, an occasional visitor to Joe Louis Arena during Eaves' time with Detroit.[19]

On October 23, 2017, after experiencing trouble breathing and weakness in his legs, Eaves was initially diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, an autoimmune nervous disorder.[20] However, when he visited a Guillain–Barré specialist, it was determined he did not have GB, but something else entirely.[17] Eaves went to numerous doctors and physical therapists and eventually regained strength in his limbs and lungs.[17] The eventual diagnosis was post-viral syndrome.[17]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–00 Shattuck–Saint Mary's HSMN 50 23 24 47
2000–01 US NTDP U18 USDP 13 7 8 15
2000–01 US NTDP U18 NAHL 34 12 11 23 75
2001–02 US NTDP U18 USDP 32 19 21 40 87
2001–02 US NTDP Juniors USHL 9 1 4 5 18
2001–02 US NTDP U18 NAHL 8 5 3 8 37
2002–03 Boston College HE 14 10 8 18 61
2003–04 Boston College HE 34 18 23 41 66
2004–05 Boston College HE 36 19 29 48 36
2005–06 Binghamton Senators AHL 18 5 8 13 10
2005–06 Ottawa Senators NHL 58 20 9 29 22 10 1 0 1 10
2006–07 Ottawa Senators NHL 73 14 18 32 36 7 0 2 2 2
2007–08 Ottawa Senators NHL 26 4 6 10 6
2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 11 1 4 5 4
2008–09 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 74 6 8 14 31 18 1 2 3 13
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 65 12 10 22 26 8 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 13 7 20 14 11 3 1 4 6
2011–12 Detroit Red Wings NHL 10 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Detroit Red Wings NHL 34 2 6 8 4 13 1 2 3 4
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 25 2 3 5 2
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 8 4 2 6 8
2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 5 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Dallas Stars NHL 47 14 13 27 8
2015–16 Dallas Stars NHL 54 11 6 17 27 9 3 3 6 2
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL 59 21 16 37 16
2016–17 Anaheim Ducks NHL 20 11 3 14 8 7 2 2 4 6
2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 2 1 0 1 0
2018–19 Anaheim Ducks NHL 7 0 0 0 4
2018–19 San Diego Gulls AHL 7 0 2 2 0
NHL totals 633 132 110 242 210 83 11 12 23 45

International edit

Medal record
Representing   United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
  2004 Helsinki
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2002 United States U18   8 4 8 12 45
2004 United States WJC   6 1 5 6 8
Junior totals 14 5 13 18 53

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
All-Hockey East Second Team 2003–04
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2003–04
All-Hockey East First Team 2004–05
Hockey East Itech "Three Stars" Award 2004–05
Hockey East Player of the Year 2004–05
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2004–05
NHL YoungStars Game 2006–07

References edit

  1. ^ "Patrick Eaves nhl bio". National Hockey League. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  2. ^ Allen, Kevin (February 11, 2008). "Sens get Commodore, Stillman from 'Canes for Corvo, Eaves". USA Today. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  3. ^ "Aaron Ward returns to Hurricanes". National Hockey League. July 24, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  4. ^ "Red Wings pick up Eaves". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 4, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  5. ^ "Wings sign Eaves to one-year deal". National Hockey League. July 7, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  6. ^ "Red Wings re-sign Ericsson, Miller, Eaves". NHL. July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "Patrick Eaves". Capgeek.com. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Red Wings' Patrick Eaves taking baby steps of his own". Detroit Free Press. April 28, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  9. ^ "Red Wings' Patrick Eaves still dealing with headaches, not close to where he was". MLive. October 29, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  10. ^ Khan, Ansar (January 18, 2013). "Red Wings' Patrick Eaves cleared to play after missing more than a year with concussion". MLive.com. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Red Wings acquire forward David Legwand from Nashville". National Hockey League. March 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "Dallas Stars sign RW Patrick Eaves". Dallas Stars. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  13. ^ "Stars re-sign forward Eaves to one-year contract". National Hockey League. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  14. ^ "Stars acquire conditional second-round pick from Ducks for Eaves". Dallas Stars. February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "Ducks, Eaves agree to three-year contract". Anaheim Ducks. June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  16. ^ "Ducks place Patrick Eaves on waivers in effort to increase roster flexibility". February 19, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c d Dillman, Lisa; Stephens, Eric (June 27, 2018). "Patrick Eaves on his 'life-changing' illness and the road to recovery". The Athletic. Retrieved June 30, 2018.(Subscription required.)
  18. ^ "Red Wings' Patrick Eaves raises awareness for Humane Society, happy to see his dog bond with newborn girl". mlive.com. September 7, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  19. ^ "Michigan March for Animals". michiganhumane.com. March 1, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  20. ^ "Ducks Winger Patrick Eaves Diagnosed With Rare Nervous System Disorder". Sports Illustrated. October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hockey East Player of the Year
2004–05
Succeeded by
Preceded by Hockey East Three-Stars Award
2004–05 (Shared With Ryan Shannon)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ottawa Senators first round draft pick
2003
Succeeded by