Patrik Elias

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. Eliáš 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 had been surprised by the selection as he believed no Devils scout had ever seen him play. Due to mandatory conscription laws, Eliáš had to show the police his contract in order to be excused from the army. After being cut from training camp, the Devils coaching staff were set to assign him to a major junior ice hockey team for the 1995–96 season. However, Eliáš convinced them to assign him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany River Rats. He scored his first two AHL goals in the team's 1995–96 season opener on 7 October. He later received a two-game suspension for making an 'obscene gesture' during a game against the Adirondack Red Wings. Eliáš made his NHL debut on 7 December 1995 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Due to the sudden nature of the recall, team owner John McMullen flew him on a private jet from Providence, Rhode Island to New Jersey. Upon returning to Albany, Eliáš tied a franchise record by recording two goals and three assists in a single game on 14 February 1996. He finished the regular season with 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points. While Eliáš spent the majority of the 1996–97 season in the AHL with the Albany River Rats, he was occasionally recalled to the Devils lineup. He scored his first NHL regular-season goal on 12 December 1996 against the Boston Bruins. Eliáš recorded two goals and three assists through 17 games with the Devils, but found the most success playing alongside Petr Sýkora and Sergei Brylin while with the River Rats. As the Devils qualified for the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs, Eliáš recorded his first playoff goal on 22 April against the Montreal Canadiens. Eliáš scored one goal through three games with the Devils to start the 1997–98 season before being sidelined for a week due to back spasms. He was reassigned to the River Rats by head coach Jacques Lemaire on 16 October for a conditioning stint. Lemaire said the reassignment was not because of Eliáš's back problems but because he wanted him to work harder.

Did You Know?

• Eliáš won two Stanley Cup championships with the Devils, in 2000 and 2003.
• He represented the Czech Republic in four Winter Olympics and four World Championships, winning one Olympic bronze medal and two World Championship bronze medals.