Ben Eager

Last updated
Ben Eager
BenEager2012.jpg
Ben Eager in January 2012 with the Edmonton Oilers
Born (1984-01-22) January 22, 1984 (age 41)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Chicago Blackhawks
Atlanta Thrashers
San Jose Sharks
Edmonton Oilers
CSKA Moscow
NHL draft 23rd overall, 2002
Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career 2004–2015

Benjamin Arthur Eager (born January 22, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

Contents

Playing career

Eager was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He was later traded by the Coyotes, with goaltender Sean Burke and forward Branko Radivojevič, to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for centre Mike Comrie.

The 2006–07 season would see Eager lead the NHL in penalty minutes, even though he only played 63 games. That same season, he also won the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the Flyer who has most improved from the previous season, as voted by his teammates.

Eager was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on December 18, 2007 for Jim Vandermeer.

Eager scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal in Game 2 of Chicago's victory against the Vancouver Canucks on May 2, 2009, in Vancouver. This led to the Blackhawks' first victory against the Canucks and evened the series at one game apiece. Eager scored his second playoff goal on May 31, 2010, in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against his former club, the Philadelphia Flyers. His goal ended up being the game winner, as the 'Hawks won 2–1. On June 9, 2010, he and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Flyers 4–3 in overtime in Game 6.

Eager in April 2009 during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks. Ben Eager.JPG
Eager in April 2009 during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.

On June 23, 2010, Eager was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, alongside Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, and Akim Aliu, in exchange for the 24th and 54th overall picks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, both previously acquired from New Jersey, Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin. [1] During the 2010–11 season, Eager delivered a sucker punch to the Toronto Maple Leafs' Colby Armstrong. Eager received a five-minute major, a match penalty for intent to injure and was ejected from the game. The NHL further suspended him for four games due to the incident. [2] Midway through the season, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks for a fifth-round pick in 2011. [3]

Eager signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2011. [4]

On October 20, 2012, Eager was arrested and charged with assault, assault with bodily harm and assault with a weapon following an altercation at a bar in Toronto. [5] [6]

On March 13, 2013, Eager was placed on waivers by the Oilers for assignment to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons. [7]

Eager left the Oilers organization as a free agent and on July 11, 2014, signed abroad on a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). [8] He returned mid-season to America, signing for the remainder of the campaign with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

In November 2016, Eager was named to the Chicago Blackhawks alumni team to play in the annual NHL Winter Classic. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1999–2000 Ottawa Jr. Senators CJHL 5081119119—————
2000–01 Oshawa Generals OHL 614610120—————
2001–02 Oshawa GeneralsOHL63142337255501113
2002–03 Oshawa GeneralsOHL5816244021680448
2003–04 Oshawa GeneralsOHL61252752204723531
2003–04 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 5000030118
2004–05 Philadelphia PhantomsAHL66710172321611271
2005–06 Philadelphia PhantomsAHL4961218256—————
2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 2535818200026
2006–07 Philadelphia PhantomsAHL300021—————
2006–07 Philadelphia FlyersNHL636511233—————
2007–08 Philadelphia FlyersNHL2300062—————
2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks NHL902227—————
2008–09 Chicago BlackhawksNHL75114151611711261
2009–10 Chicago BlackhawksNHL6079161201812320
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL34371077—————
2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL34437431010141
2011–12 Edmonton Oilers NHL638513107—————
2012–13 Edmonton OilersNHL1411225—————
2012–13 Oklahoma City Barons AHL9022131314564
2013–14 Oklahoma City BaronsAHL4462813620004
2013–14 Edmonton OilersNHL70112—————
2014–15 CSKA Moscow KHL 50002—————
2014–15 Chicago Wolves AHL2602286—————
AHL totals20219284774432268147
NHL totals40743428587547336148

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
2002 Canada WJC18 813445

References

  1. ↑ "Blackhawks send Byfuglien to Thrashers". NHL.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
  2. ↑ "Thrashers' Eager Suspended Four Games for Sucker Punch". TSN. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  3. ↑ "Sharks Acquire Eager from Thrashers for Pick". TSN . Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  4. ↑ "TSN Free Agent Tracker". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Oilers' Ben Eager charged after Toronto bar fight". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  6. ↑ Pagliaro, Jennifer (2012-10-21). "Edmonton Oilers NHL player Ben Eager arrested after Toronto bar fight". Toronto Star . Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  7. ↑ "Oilers Assign Ben Eager to Oklahoma City". Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 16 Mar 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ben Eager and Chad Billins join CSKA". HC CSKA Moscow. 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  9. ↑ Blackhawks name roster for Winter Classic Alumni Game
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Phoenix Coyotes first round draft pick
2002 		Succeeded by
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