The Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup, downing the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to take home hockey's ultimate prize. There is one former Blue Jacket who will find his name on the trophy this year: forward Eric Robinson.
It's been quite a journey for the checking line winger. After going undrafted, he spent four years playing NCAA hockey for Princeton; amassing 39 goals and 67 points in 128 career games.
His collegiate career was capped off with a 17 goal, 31 point senior season, where he served as team captain as they won a conference championship. Ultimately, they were eliminated by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the NCAA tournament.
But, his time in Central Ohio was only beginning. The Blue Jackets had their scouting eyes on him and saw a potential NHL player. After his NCAA career finished, GM Jarmo Kekalainen signed Robinson to a two-year entry level contract.
He joined the team for one game at the end of that 2017-18 season, then split the next two years between the Blue Jackets and the Cleveland Monsters. In that time, he earned two more extensions with the team, ultimately sticking in the NHL full-time for the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
Eric would spend 7 years in the Blue Jackets organization, accruing 266 games played, with 38 goals and 82 points. Unfortunately, his role diminished as the team went through its rebuild. By his final season in Columbus (2023-24), he was on the outside looking in.
In December of 2023, they traded him to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional 7th-round pick (the condition was never filled). Robinson found some ice time with the Sabres, which was good enough to earn him a one year "show me deal" with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Eric Robinson has become a good depth piece for the Canes.
The rest, as they say, is history. In his first season in Raleigh, Eric played in all 82 games, scoring a career-high 14 goals and 32 points-albeit with a gaudy 21.2% shooting percentage.
That was enough to earn him a three year contract extension, giving him some stability into his mid-30s. Wisely, the Canes paid him like a fourth line player. That's exactly what he is, and there is nothing wrong with owning that role.
The speedy 31 year old has become an important depth piece for the Canes, whose system relies on speed, heavy forechecking, and quick puck retrievals. Essentially, he's a round peg for a round hole. It's the perfect environment for him.
After last night's smothering win over Vegas, he can call himself a Stanley Cup winner. Not bad for a guy whose NHL aspirations were distant at best.
Johnny would be proud.
I would be remiss if I ended this article without mentioning Eric's good friend and long-time teammate, Johnny Gaudreau. The two grew up playing minor hockey together, and the fact that their paths crossed again in Columbus is fate.
Johnny would be incredibly proud of Eric for all he has done leading up to this moment. I'm certain that nobody would have been wearing a bigger smile than Johnny as he lifted the Cup over his head last night.
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