Patrick Eaves is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. Eaves was born on May 1, 1984, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He began his hockey career playing for the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before moving on to play for Boston College in the NCAA.
Eaves was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Senators during the 2005-2006 season and played with the team for two seasons before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008. Eaves played with the Hurricanes for two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2009.
Eaves played with the Red Wings for four seasons and was a key player on the team's penalty kill unit. He was known for his strong defensive play and his ability to score timely goals. Eaves helped the Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009, but the team ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In 2013, Eaves signed with the Nashville Predators as a free agent. He played with the Predators for one season before being traded to the Dallas Stars in 2014. Eaves played with the Stars for two seasons before being traded back to the Anaheim Ducks in 2016.
Eaves had a career year with the Ducks during the 2016-2017 season, scoring 32 goals and 19 assists in 79 games. However, his career was derailed by a serious illness that caused him to miss most of the 2017-2018 season. Eaves was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system.
Eaves returned to the Ducks for the 2018-2019 season but struggled to regain his form. He scored just three goals and six assists in 47 games before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in February 2019. Eaves announced his retirement from professional hockey in August 2020.
Throughout his career, Eaves was known for his hard work, dedication, and professionalism. He was a respected teammate and a fan favorite wherever he played. Eaves finished his NHL career with 132 goals and 110 assists in 634 games.
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