ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have assigned forward Cody Eakin to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Eakin, 20, has collected six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-two rating in 19 NHL games. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 1 vs. Anaheim and recorded his first NHL point (an assist) and scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 4 at Carolina.

Eakin has recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in 10 games with Hershey in the AHL this season. In his first full professional season, Eakin ranks second among rookies on Hershey in points (behind current Capital Dmitry Orlov). Eakin appeared in four regular-season games for Hershey during the 2009-10 season (two goals) and played in five postseason games as Hershey won the 2010 Calder Cup.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native helped Canada earn a silver medal at the World Junior Championship last season and helped guide the Kootenay Ice to the Western Hockey League (WHL) championship. Eakin finished the Memorial Cup playoff round tied for second in points (six) and his three goals scored tied for third. He collected 239 points (118 goals, 121 assists) in 238 career WHL games.

Eakin will be available for Hershey’s game tonight vs. Norfolk.