Former Columbus Blue Jacket, Eric Robinson, is Stanley Cup Final Bound!

Undrafted Eric Robinson is heading to the Stanley Cup Final with the Carolina Hurricanes! His first season in the National Hockey League was spent in Columbus during the 2017-18 season. He played just one game that season and had zero points. In the 2018-19 season, he appeared in 13 games but again had no points. That all changed during the shortened 2019-20 season. He played 50 games and had 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points. From that season on, Eric would grow his game and presence, becoming a favorite amongst 5th Line fans. 

In his final season wearing a Blue Jackets jersey, 2023-24, he had only one goal in 7 games, but there was heavy debate over whether Eric should stay in Columbus or be traded. Many were shocked to hear that the Sabers acquired him for a measly conditional 7th-round pick. Upon his departure, he appeared in 266 games across 7 seasons in Columbus. He'd total 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points in those games. He'd spend the rest of that season in Buffalo and play 40 games (5 less than the amount needed to meet the agreement of that conditional 7th round pick) for the Sabers that season. He'd have 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. It was a good showing, but with the Sabers in the midst of a rebuild, he found new opportunities in Carolina with the Hurricanes in the 2024-25 NHL season. 

Eric's first season in Carolina would be the best of his NHL career. He wouldn't miss a regular-season game, playing all 82 for the first time. He'd finish with 14 goals, 18 assists, and 32 points. His +/- would be a +14 when the regular season ended. The Hurricanes would go on to take down the New Jersey Devils in Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, followed by another take down of the Washington Capitals in Round 2. Both series were quickly decided in just 5 games. The Florida Panthers would be hungry for a second Stanley Cup in a row, and they'd beat the Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference Final and reclaim the cup soon after. So, it was back to the drawing board for Eric Robinson and the Hurricanes, but this season, persistence would pay off. 

This season, Eric Robinson would miss a few games of the regular season, appearing in 67. Over those games, he'd have 12 goals and 6 assists, finishing with 18 points and a +/- of +7. Carolina would not hold back against any opponent in the playoffs this time around, beating the Ottawa Senators in 4 games in Round 1 and the Philadelphia Flyers in 4 games in Round 2. Their challenger in the Eastern Conference Final, the Montreal Canadians, would give them their only loss in the Cup Finals so far, 6-2. After that loss, however, the Hurricanes never allowed it again, winning the next 4 games and solidifying their trip to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. In this final series alone, Eric Robinson had 3 goals and an assist! He's waited a long time and has earned this trip to the finals. I hope he enjoys every moment, and that I have a happy update on his time there in due time! 

Good Luck, Robbie!      


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is There a Team Altering Trade Forming in Columbus? 3/3/2026

I'll start out by saying what I normally do the first week of March every season: Unless under special circumstances, I only allow myself to speculate one week a year, and that is NHL Trade Deadline Week.  I could be wrong, and I only have information avalible to the public. I am not an insider, and I've never claimed to be. That said, something has happened tonight that gives me a gut feeling our General Manager, Don Waddell, could be up to something. What I am about to lay out is either a coincidence or a fact, and only time will tell. Here are my thoughts. Let me make this very clear: I have multiple reasons to love each of our players. So, what I'm about to say comes from a business standpoint only. Kent Johnson had been a healthy scratch for the last two games. He's a young player with decent numbers, which could be an asset to any of the other 31 NHL teams. I firmly believed that he'd be leaving us, and, if he did, I would of course wish him nothing but the be...
Read more

2025-2026 End of Season Wrap-up: Columbus Blue Jackets

Introduction and Rick Bowness Staying: I waited a week to write this so my thoughts and feelings about the season could sink in and not be spur-of-the-moment. I also wanted to see what our General Manager, Don Waddell, would decide regarding keeping Rick Bowness as head coach following his blunt and emotional remarks to the media after Tuesday's final game and loss in Nationwide Arena. Rick Bowness made news across the world with his comments of frustration and how he'd change the culture if brought back. I know that sounds dramatic to say 'across the world', but nearly every hockey creator I follow on TikTok posted remarks about his comments, and although the Blue Jackets aren't these creators' primary team, they expressed support for his reaction and hoped he'd be hired back. This doesn't include media outlets like ESPN and the New York Times also writing articles about his emotional response to what had been a remarkable and inspired turn around sicne...
Read more

If I Were Don Waddell, This is What I'd Do Ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

So, a few days ago, I wrote a blog post that I hoped wouldn't hold up. I think my hopes have been realized. In that post, I centered on how our captain, Boone Jenner, had been listed as out against the Nashville Predators under 'maintenance'. I got an uneasy feeling this could result in a trade due to the timing and the reason he wouldn't play. Tonight, he not only played against the Florida Panthers but also had the game-winning goal. So, although anything can still happen, I feel less anxious about Boone leading us tomorrow before the NHL Trade Deadline at 3:00 p.m. So, with that said, what would I do if I were Don Waddell?  Nothing.  You read that right, 5th Line, I wouldn't touch this team. I say this for two main reasons. First, our best player and defenseman, Zach Werenski, has been out ill for the last three games. This team has rallied without him to win once in overtime and twice in regulation in those three games. Further, the first game they won without h...
Read more