Patrik Eliáš facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrik Eliáš
Eliáš with the New Jersey Devils in 2014
Born	(1976-04-13) 13 April 1976 (age 49) Třebíč, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Poldi SONP Kladno New Jersey Devils LTC Pardubice JME Znojemští Orli Metallurg Magnitogorsk
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	51st overall, 1994 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1992–2016
Website	eliaspatrik.com
Medal record Ice hockey Winter Olympics Bronze 2006 Turin World Championships Bronze 1998 Switzerland Bronze 2011 Slovakia

Patrik Eliáš (born April 13, 1976) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played the winger position for 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), all with the New Jersey Devils.

Eliáš is a legend for the Devils. He is the team's all-time leader in points, goals, and assists. He also scored 80 game-winning goals, more than any other player in the team's history. Eliáš helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup twice, in 2000 and 2003.

Internationally, Eliáš played for the Czech national team many times. He competed in four Winter Olympics and four World Championships. He won a bronze medal at the Olympics and two more at the World Championships.

Early Life

Patrik Eliáš was born in Třebíč, Czechoslovakia. He grew up with two older brothers, Zdenek and Radek. All three brothers played hockey, but Patrik was the one who went on to have a long professional career.

NHL Career with the New Jersey Devils

Getting Started in the NHL (1994–1999)

The New Jersey Devils chose Eliáš in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. At first, he played for their minor league team, the Albany River Rats. He worked hard and was called up to the NHL for his first game on December 7, 1995.

By the 1997–98 season, Eliáš was playing in the NHL full-time. He had a great first year, scoring 18 goals and 37 points. He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is given to the NHL's best rookie.

The Famous "A-Line" and Stanley Cups (1999–2003)

In the late 1990s, Eliáš was put on a line with teammates Jason Arnott and Petr Sýkora. They became known as the "A-Line" and were one of the best lines in the NHL. They scored many important goals for the Devils.

In the 1999–2000 season, Eliáš had a fantastic year. He scored 35 goals and led the team with 72 points. In the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored the two winning goals in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Philadelphia Flyers. This sent the Devils to the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals.

In the Finals against the Dallas Stars, the "A-Line" was amazing. In the final game, Eliáš made a perfect pass to Jason Arnott, who scored the winning goal in double-overtime. The Devils won the Stanley Cup!

The next season, Eliáš was even better. He scored 40 goals and had 96 points, setting a new Devils team record for points in a season. The Devils made it back to the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Colorado Avalanche.

In 2003, the Devils, led by coach Pat Burns, won the Stanley Cup again. Eliáš was a key player, scoring seven points in the final series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Later Career and Setting Records (2003–2016)

Eliáš before a game in Calgary in 2007

After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Eliáš got sick with Hepatitis A and missed the start of the next season. He recovered and returned to the team, continuing to be a top player. In 2006, he signed a new seven-year contract to stay with the Devils.

On March 17, 2009, Eliáš became the Devils' all-time leading scorer with his 702nd point. He continued to break records for the team. On December 17, 2011, he scored his 348th goal, passing John MacLean to become the Devils' all-time leading goal scorer.

Eliáš in 2012

Eliáš reached more milestones in his final years. He played his 1,000th NHL game in 2012. In 2015, he scored his 1,000th career point, a huge achievement for any NHL player.

Retirement

Patrik Eliáš announced his retirement from hockey on March 31, 2017. He played his entire 20-year NHL career with the New Jersey Devils.

On February 24, 2018, the Devils honored him by retiring his jersey number, 26. This means no other Devils player will ever wear that number again. He was the first forward in the team's history to receive this honor.

International Play

Eliáš was proud to play for his home country, the Czech Republic. He played in four Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 2006. In 2010, he was chosen as the captain of the Czech Olympic team. He also won two bronze medals at the IIHF World Championships.

Personal Life

Eliáš is married to Petra Volakova, and they have two daughters. In 2018, he became a citizen of the United States.

Because he had Hepatitis A, Eliáš wanted to help others. He became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2006 to help raise awareness about health issues.

Devils Franchise Records

Eliáš holds many records for the New Jersey Devils, including:

• Most career points (1,025)
• Most career goals (408)
• Most career assists (617)
• Most career game-winning goals (80)
• Most career overtime goals (16)
• Most career playoff points (125)
• Most points in a single season (96)

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International

Awards and Honours

NHL

• Stanley Cup champion – 2000, 2003
• NHL All-Star Game – 2000, 2002, 2011, 2015
• NHL First All-Star team – 2001
• NHL Plus-Minus Award – 2001
• NHL All-Rookie team – 1998
• No. 26 Jersey was retired by the New Jersey Devils on February 24, 2018

International

• Golden Hockey Stick (Best Czech Player) – 2009, 2012
• Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame – 2022

See also

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of NHL players with 1,000 points
• List of NHL players who spent their entire career with one franchise