Patrik Eliáš Era
Czech-born Devils legend, franchise scoring leader, two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Patrik Eliáš (born 13 April 1976) is a Czech former professional hockey winger who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), all for the New Jersey Devils.
Quick Facts
- Nationality
- Czech
- Position
- Centre
- Jersey number
- 11
- Devils tenure
- 1997–2016 (17 seasons)
- Stanley cup
- 2003 (champion)
- Key teammates
- Scott Niedermayer
- Scott Gomez
- Ilya Kovalchuk
- Zach Parise
Lore & Background
Eliáš was drafted in the second round of the 1994 NHL draft by New Jersey. He played most of the next two seasons in the American Hockey League with multiple call-ups before staying with the Devils for good in the 1997–98 season, where he recorded 18 goals and 37 points that saw him finish as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy and named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. In the 1999–2000 season, he had 35 goals and in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he had 20 points (where he tied for the lead in assists with 13) in 23 games, which included the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and the game-winning assist in the sixth and final game of the Stanley Cup Final. He peaked in goals with 40 and was named an NHL First All-Star for the only time. He had 13 points in 24 games of the 2003 playoffs as the Devils won the Stanley Cup Final to give Eliáš his second championship. A four-time selection to the NHL All-Star Game, Eliáš retired in 2016; from 1995 to 2016, he was one of just ten players to record 1,000 points. Described by long-time Devils executive Lou Lamoriello as an 'all-situation player', Eliáš ranks as the all-time leader in franchise history for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025), doing so in 1,240 games; he also holds the franchise record for most career game-winning goals (80). He also ranks second among Czech-born players in NHL points, behind Jaromír Jágr. Internationally, Eliáš represented the Czech national team in multiple tournaments, including four Winter Olympics and four World Championships, winning one Olympic bronze medal and two more at the World Championships. In 2018, the Devils retired his jersey, making him the fifth player to receive the honor. He is a member of the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Reader's Guide
Eliáš was born on 13 April 1976 in Třebíč, Czechoslovakia to Zdeňka Eliášová and Zdeněk Eliáš. He and his older brothers Zdenek and Radek played organized hockey in Czechoslovakia, although the latter was forced to retire due to an injury. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 51st overall, in the 1994 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut on 7 December 1995 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first NHL regular-season goal on 12 December 1996 against the Boston Bruins. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 1998. He was a key member of the 'A-Line' with Petr Sýkora and Jason Arnott. He won the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003.
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