Patrik Elias

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Patrik Eliáš was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 51st overall, in the 1994 NHL entry draft, a selection that surprised him as he believed no Devils scout had ever seen him play. After spending most of the next two seasons in the AHL with the Albany River Rats, he joined the Devils for good in the 1997–98 season, recording 18 goals and 37 points to finish as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy and earn a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. In the 1999–2000 season, he scored 35 goals and added 20 points in the playoffs, including 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. In the 2003 playoffs, he had 13 points in 24 games as the Devils won the Stanley Cup Final to give Eliáš his second championship. From 1995 to 2016, he was one of just ten players to record 1,000 points.

In Their Own Story

In the 1999–2000 season, Eliáš found his stride alongside Petr Sýkora and Jason Arnott, forming the "A-Line" that became the Devils' top unit. Over a five-game period, Eliáš scored seven points while the line combined for 28 goals. He set a franchise record for most consecutive games with a goal, a 15-game scoring streak in January that saw him record 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points. When the streak ended on 28 January, he had become the first Devils player to reach 30 goals in a season since 1994. In the playoffs that year, his 20 points tied for the lead in assists with 13, and his game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and game-winning assist in the Stanley Cup Final clinched the championship. Eliáš finished his career as the franchise's all-time leader in goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025), and he also holds the franchise record for most career game-winning goals (80).

Reader's Guide

Patrik Eliáš spent his entire NHL career with the New Jersey Devils, from his debut on 7 December 1995 against the Toronto Maple Leafs to his retirement in 2016. He ranks as the all-time leader in franchise history for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025) in 1,240 games, and also holds the franchise record for most career game-winning goals (80). He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2000, 2003) and a four-time NHL All-Star. 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.

Did You Know?

• Eliáš was drafted 51st overall in the second round of the 1994 NHL draft, a selection that surprised him because he believed no Devils scout had ever seen him play.
• He set a franchise record for most consecutive games with a goal during a 15-game scoring streak in January 2000.
• Eliáš is the all-time leader in franchise history for goals (408), assists (617), and points (1,025), as well as game-winning goals (80).
• He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in the 1997–98 season.
• Eliáš's jersey was retired by the Devils in 2018, making him the fifth player to receive the honor.