Eric Robinson Bio
Eric Robinson (born June 14, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, Robinson has built his reputation on steady two-way play, opportunistic scoring, and the willingness to take on bottom-six checking-line responsibilities. Over the course of his career, he has produced a season-high 12 goals and has been praised for his skating and work ethic. After beginning his professional career as an undrafted free agent, he has appeared for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Early Life and Background
Eric Robinson was raised in Bellmawr, New Jersey, a small borough in the southern part of the state near Philadelphia. Growing up in this tight-knit community, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and developed his skills on local rinks. He attended Gloucester Catholic High School, a well-known prep program in New Jersey, where he played varsity hockey and graduated in 2013. His time at Gloucester Catholic helped him establish the foundation that would later carry him into top-level junior and collegiate competition.
Robinson comes from a hockey family, which helped shape his early interest in the sport. His brother, Buddy Robinson, is also a professional ice hockey player and has competed in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks. Buddy Robinson is currently under contract in the Kontinental Hockey League. The two brothers grew up playing the game together, and that family connection has been a constant source of motivation and support throughout Eric’s career.
Path to Hockey
Following his final Midget season, Eric Robinson was selected by the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2013 USHL Entry Draft. He spent the 2013–14 season developing in the USHL, one of the premier junior leagues in North America. That year of junior hockey gave him the physical and mental preparation needed to compete at the next level.
After his USHL season, Robinson moved on to Princeton University, where he played collegiate hockey in the ECAC conference with the Princeton Tigers. His development progressed steadily, with his point totals and role on the team increasing each year. In his senior season of 2017–18, he was named team captain and recorded a career-high 17 goals and 31 points in 36 games. He also helped Princeton surprise the college hockey world by winning the ECAC playoff tournament, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. Despite this strong college career, Robinson went unselected in the NHL Entry Draft.
Eric Robinson Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
As an undrafted free agent, Eric Robinson attracted significant NHL interest after his senior season at Princeton. On March 27, 2018, he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets added him to their roster immediately in order to burn a year off his contract, and Robinson made his NHL debut on April 7, 2018, in a 4–2 loss to the Nashville Predators in the final game of the 2017–18 regular season.
In his first full professional season, Robinson adjusted to the pace and physicality of the NHL while splitting time between Columbus and its American Hockey League affiliate. He worked hard to establish himself as a reliable depth forward, and his dedication to a strong two-way game quickly earned him the trust of his coaching staff.
Columbus Blue Jackets Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Robinson’s time with the Columbus Blue Jackets produced his most memorable early NHL moments. During the 2019–20 season, on November 12, 2019, he scored his first NHL career goal against goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. That milestone confirmed his ability to contribute offensively at the highest level.
His role continued to grow in subsequent seasons, and he became a regular presence in the Blue Jackets’ bottom-six forward group. In the 2022–23 season, Robinson had a career-defining performance on February 28, 2023, when he scored his first career hat trick against goaltender Craig Anderson and the Buffalo Sabres. He finished that season with a career-high 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 72 regular-season games, cementing his value as a scoring and checking winger.
Buffalo Sabres and Trade (2023–2024)
In the 2023–24 season, Robinson was demoted to the AHL for the first time in four years after clearing waivers. He appeared in nine games with the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus’s AHL affiliate, before returning to the NHL club. After recording one goal in seven games back with Columbus, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on December 6, 2023, in exchange for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.
With the Sabres, Robinson settled into a bottom-six checking-line role and contributed 2 goals and 9 points through 40 regular-season appearances. Although his offensive numbers were modest, his reliability and penalty-killing work helped stabilize Buffalo’s forward group for the remainder of the season.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2024–Present)
As a free agent following his time in Buffalo, Eric Robinson signed a one-year contract worth $950,000 with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, 2024, at the opening of NHL free agency. The move gave him a fresh opportunity on a contending team known for its structured, defense-first system. Robinson was expected to bring speed, energy, and two-way reliability to Carolina’s bottom-six forward unit.
Driving Style and Strengths
Robinson is widely recognized for his skating, his willingness to play a physical checking role, and his versatility across all three forward positions. He is comfortable killing penalties, blocking shots, and creating energy shifts, while still possessing the offensive touch to finish scoring chances. His straight-line speed allows him to be effective on the forecheck, and his hockey IQ makes him a trusted piece in tight games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Eric Robinson’s career include his first NHL goal against Carey Price in November 2019, his first career hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres in February 2023, and his 12-goal career season in 2022–23. His trade to the Sabres in December 2023 and his free-agent signing with the Hurricanes in July 2024 also mark important turning points in his professional journey.
Eric Robinson Career Wins
Eric Robinson’s professional win totals reflect his role as a depth and middle-six winger rather than a perennial top scorer. His most productive offensive output came during the 2022–23 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he set career highs in goals, assists, and points. While he has not been a primary point producer, he has consistently contributed to winning team efforts through checking, penalty killing, and reliable defensive play.
NHL Highlights
Robinson’s NHL career began with a two-year entry-level deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018, and he went on to play more than 200 regular-season games with the organization. His standout offensive season came in 2022–23, highlighted by his first career hat trick against the Sabres. His first NHL goal against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens in 2019 remains another notable individual milestone.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Robinson enjoyed strong success at the collegiate level, highlighted by his senior-season captaincy at Princeton University and a memorable ECAC playoff championship in 2017–18. That run also earned the Tigers a trip to the NCAA tournament, marking one of the most successful stretches in the program’s recent history.
Eric Robinson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eric Robinson was raised in a sports-oriented household in Bellmawr, New Jersey, where hockey quickly became a family passion. His older brother, Buddy Robinson, has also built a professional hockey career, having played in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks before moving to the Kontinental Hockey League.
Personal Life
Eric Robinson continues to keep his personal life largely private and focuses much of his public presence on his professional hockey career. Off the ice, he has been active in community and team-related initiatives connected to his NHL clubs.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 calendar year, Eric Robinson is in the middle of his one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and is expected to continue serving as a key depth winger in the team’s bottom-six forward group. His role within the Hurricanes’ structured, defense-first system should allow him to focus on penalty killing, energy shifts, and opportunistic scoring. As Carolina pushes for a deep playoff run, Robinson’s speed and reliability will be valuable assets in tight, low-event games.
Throughout the 2024–25 NHL season, Robinson has been a steady contributor rather than a primary offensive driver. His value to the Hurricanes lies in his ability to play in all situations, match up against opposing teams’ top lines when needed, and provide veteran leadership in the locker room. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, his play in 2025 could play a major role in determining his next contract opportunity.
Looking ahead, Robinson’s familiarity with the Hurricanes’ system and his strong two-way game position him well for a productive second half of the 2024–25 campaign. Whether or not he remains in Carolina beyond this season, his consistent work ethic and professional approach should keep him in demand across the league.