Patrik Eliáš

Playing career

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

Along with Petr Sýkora and Jason Arnott, he helped lead the team to the 1999–2000 Stanley Cup championship. He scored twice against Philadelphia Flyers in conference finals deciding game 7 [1], he also assisted on Arnott's Cup-clinching goal in double overtime in Game 6 away against the Dallas Stars. The following year, he scored a team-record 96 points in the regular season, third best in the league. Two years later he played a key role in New Jersey 2003 Stanley Cup victory recording 7 points (3+4) in the finals against Anaheim Ducks [2].

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played hockey in Russia for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Three months into the 2005–06 season, Eliáš made his first appearance of the season on 3 January 2006, against the Florida Panthers, after missing 39 games due to Hepatitis A, resuming his role as an alternate captain (replacing Alexander Mogilny). He picked up where he left off, scoring eight points in his first four games and helping the Devils win his first nine games back with the team. In the first game of the 2006 playoffs against the New York Rangers, he became the tenth player to score six points in an NHL playoff game, with two goals and four assists. Eliáš' 2006 post-season campaign was spectacular, even though the Devils were eliminated by eventual Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, in the second round. Eliáš scored six goals and added ten assists for an impressive 16 points in just nine games.

Unable to reach a deal with the Devils headed into the 2006 off-season, Elias tested unrestricted free agency. In addition to offers to from the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens, Eliáš verbally agreed to sign with the rival New York Rangers on 1 July. However, talks hit a snag when Rangers General Manager Glen Sather would not agree on a no-movement clause. Eliáš then called Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and the two sides agreed on a seven-year, $42 million contract that included a no-movement clause.

Eliáš was named the Devils' new captain on 5 October 2006, becoming the seventh captain in the team's history. The previous captain of the Devils was defenseman Scott Stevens, now retired. He is also the first European born captain in the history of the franchise. However, at the start of the 2007–08 season, Eliáš was stripped of the captaincy by incoming coach Brent Sutter. The Devils named Jamie Langenbrunner his replacement as captain on 5 December 2007.

Sutter later placed Eliáš on a top scoring line which consisted of Dainus Zubrus and Brian Gionta. Eliáš was also known to work well with Devils winger Zach Parise, with whom he occasionally played with on "Heroes Line" and frequently played with on the power-play unit.

On 17 March 2009, Eliáš became the Devils' all-time leading scorer by recording his 702nd regular season point, an assist on Brian Gionta's shorthanded goal. Gionta's goal was the game-winner in a 3–2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, providing the difference in goaltender Martin Brodeur's record-breaking 552nd win to surpass Patrick Roy, who held the former record at 551 wins. Chants of "Pa-trik E-li-as" were heard as Devils' PA announcer Kevin Clark confirmed to the crowd that Eliáš had broken John MacLean's record. Eliáš was named the second star of the night, behind only Brodeur.

Eliáš was the winner of the 2009 Golden Hockey Stick as the world's best Czech hockey player, ending Jaromír Jágr's four-year streak. He scored his 300th career goal on 12 December 2009, against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Despite a weak first half by the Devils during the 2010–11 season, Eliáš was selected 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." On 19 February 2011, Eliáš recorded the 800th point of his career with his third assist of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes. At the conclusion of the season, on 1 April, Eliáš scored his eighth career hat trick, coming against the Philadelphia Flyers.

In the following 2011–12 season, Eliáš scored two goals (347, 348) against the Montreal Canadiens to tie, then pass John MacLean as the leading goal scorer for the Devils on 17 December 2011. Eliáš played his 1,000th NHL game on 6 January 2012, against the Florida Panthers. In the game, he scored a goal and recorded two assists in a 5–2 victory.

On 27 January 2013, Eliáš Recorded his 900th career point with a goal and two assists against the Montreal Canadiens. On 6 January 2015, Eliáš became the 82nd player in NHL history to recorded 1,000 career points in a 4–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He scored one goal and had two assists. A month later, on 6 February, Eliáš scored his 400th NHL goal, becoming the 91st player in the league's history to do so, in the Devils' 4–1 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

International play

Eliáš played his first game in the national squad in 1998, and has played 40 times for the national team, score 20 goals (as of end of season 2010/2011). He was selected as the Captain of the Czech Republic for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Personal life

Eliáš married Petra Volakova, also a native Czech, in the 2007 off-season. Together they have one child, a daughter named Sophia Gabriella, born on 27 November 2010.

Records

Awards