Patrik Elias

At 48 years old, Patrik Elias has this physical status:

Patrik Eliá (born 13 April 1976) is a Czech-American former professional hockey winger who spent 20 seasons with the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Eliá is the franchise's all-time leader in points, goals, and assists, and he holds the most points in a season (96), as well as the majority of career game-winning goals (79).

In 2000 and 2003, Eliás win the Stanley Cup twice with the Devils.

In addition, he currently ranks second in points by a Czech-born player in the NHL, behind Jaromr Jágr.

Personal life

In the 2007 off-season, Eliá married Petra Volakova, who is also a native Czech. They have two children together. Eliás naturalized citizen of the United States was born on January 11, 2018.

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Playing career

In the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Elia was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 51st overall.

He was a leader on the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs with Petr Skora and Jason Arnott, who together formed the Devils' iconic "A-Line." He scored twice against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and he also assisted in Arnott's Stanley Cup-clinching goal in double overtime against the Dallas Stars on Game 6. He scored a team-record 96 points in the regular season, third-best in the NHL, following his third-best finish. He was instrumental in New Jersey's 2003 Stanley Cup triumph after scoring seven points (three goals and four assists) against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim two years ago.

Eliá played hockey for Metallurg Magnitogorsk during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

Eliás first game of the season came against the Florida Panthers on January 3, 2006, after missing 39 games due to Hepatitis A. Replacing Alexander Mogilny. In his first four games, he scored eight points to help the Devils win their first nine games back with the team. He became the tenth player to score six points in one NHL playoff game against the New York Rangers in the first game of the 2006 playoffs. Elia's 2006 playoff campaign was fantastic, despite the fact that the Devils were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Eliá's total score in just nine games was 6 goals and ten assists for an impressive 16 points.

Elia tried an unrestricted free agency because he was unable to find a job with the Devils in the 2006 off-season. Eliá verbally committed to signing with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens on July 1st. However, negotiations stalled when Rangers general manager Glen Sather refused to sign a no-movement clause in his deal. Lou Lamoriello, the Devils' general manager, was subsequently hired by Eli, and the two teams decided on a seven-year, $42 million deal with no guarantees.

Eliás was appointed the Devils' new captain on October 5, 2006, becoming the seventh captain in the team's history. Scott Stevens, the Devils' previous captain, was defender Scott Stevens, who has since been fired. Eliá became the first European-born captain in the franchise's history. However, Eliás captaincy was stripped of by new head coach Brent Sutter at the start of the 2007-08 season. On December 5, the Devils announced Jamie Langenbrunner as the team's captain.

Elis' top scoring line, composed of Dainus Zubrus and Brian Gionta, was later placed on Eliás. Eliás was also known to work well with Devils winger Zach Parise, with whom he occasionally appeared on "Heroes Line" and often played with on the power-play team.

Eliás scored his seventh all-time scoring point in his NHL regular season debut on March 17, 2009, as an assist on Brian Gionta's shorthanded goal. Gionta's goal was the game-winner in a 3–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, putting the difference between goaltender Martin Brodeur's record of 551 victories over Patrick Roy. "Pa-trik E-as" Chants were heard as Devils PA announcer Kevin Clark announced to the crowd that Eliás record had been beaten. Eliás name was named as the second star of the night, behind only Brodeur.

Eliá was the 2009 Golden Hockey Stick champion as the world's best Czech hockey player, snapping Jaromr Jágr's four-year streak. On December 12, 2009, he scored his 300th career goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in their 300th game.

Despite a poor first half of the 2010–11 season, Eliá was chosen to be the Devils sole representative at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, North Carolina. This was his third All-Star appearance, and he was eventually selected by Team Staal in the first-ever NHL All-Star "fantasy draft." Eliás third assist in the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 19, 2011, his 800th NHL point in his career. Eliá threw his eighth career hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 1st.

Eliáll's two goals (347, 48) against the Montreal Canadiens on December 17th, 2011 to tie (then surpassing) John MacLean as the Devils' top goalcorer in the 2011-12 season. Elia's 1,000th appearance in NHL history came against the Florida Panthers on January 6, 2012. In a 5–2 win, he scored a goal and added two assists.

Eliás scored his 900th NHL point against the Montreal Canadiens on January 27, 2013, with a single goal and two assists. He became the 82nd player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points on January 6, 2015, defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4–1. Eliá scored his 400th NHL goal on February 6, the Devils' 4–1 home victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking his 91st player in NHL history to do so.

Eliás announced his retirement from competitive ice hockey on March 31. On August 3, 2017, the Devils announced that his #26 will be officially retired on February 24, 2018, the team against whom Elias career (91) played the most games in his career (91) and scored the most points against (86) in his career (86). Eliá became the first forward to have his number retired by the Devils and the fifth Devil overall.

Post-playing career

The Czech National Team is led by Elias. Elias has been with the Devils for a few weeks each year in a teaching role.

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Awards

• 1998: World Championship Bronze medal, Czech Republic
• 1997–98: NHL All-Rookie team
• 1999–2000: Stanley Cup champion, New Jersey Devils
• 1999–2000: NHL All-Star Game participant
• 2000–01: NHL First All-Star team
• 2000–01: NHL Bud Light Plus/Minus Award (shared with Joe Sakic)
• 2001–02: NHL All-Star Game participant
• 2002–03: Stanley Cup champion, New Jersey Devils
• 2006: Olympic Bronze medal, Czech Republic
• 2009, 2012: Golden Hockey Stick
• 2010–11: NHL All-Star Game participant
• 2011: World championship Bronze medal, Czech Republic
• 2014–15: NHL All-Star Game participant