New Jersey Devils and Patrik Elias Staying in Communication During the Summer

Patrik Elias is spending the summer in the Czech Republic as he awaits what is in store for him, in regards to his future with the New Jersey Devils. 

Elias, 40, had surgery on his right knee on May 11^th, and according to general manager, Ray Shero, the team will remain in “constant contact” with him, throughout the summer, as continues his rehabilitation process. Elias has played his entire 17-year career with the Devils. 

Shero told NJ.com, “He is back in the Czech Republic now, and it is basically where we have left it. I talked to his agent just a couple of days ago, and he is just going to monitor how he is doing.”

Elias became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and hopes that he can return for one final run with the only team he has ever laced up the skates for in the National Hockey League. His agent, Allen Walsh, told Rogers Sportsnet that the Devils are the only team he is communicating with. 

Walsh said, “If Patrik is able to play at the level he expects himself to play, if he can contribute to the team, I think New Jersey would very much love to have him back.”

During the past season, Elias was limited to just 16 games, due to the knee injury. He scored two goals and six assists during the 2015-2016 campaign. 

The Devils All-Time Leader in points has scored 408 goals and 617 assists in his 17-year history with the club. His career goals and assists are both first overall in team history. Elias is the only Devils player to reach the 1,000-point mark, all with New Jersey, as well. 

The Devils’ second round pick, 51^st overall, in the 1994 NHL Draft has won two Stanley Cups (2000, 2003) as well as holding the franchise record for most points in a season (96) and game winning goals (79). 

One of the key parts to the Devils 2000 Stanley Cup Championship, he scored twice in the decisive game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers to help send them to the Stanley Cup Final. He also picked up the assist on Jason Arnott’s game winning double overtime goal in the Cup clincher against the Dallas Stars. 

Shero and head coach John Hynes, pretty much know and have seen what he brings to the organization on the ice, but they also value his off-ice presence as well. Even though he was only able to play 16 games on the season last year, he still attended team meetings and showed his veteran leadership around the room. 

Shero told NJ.com, “Once getting the green light to start ramping up his training off ice, we will see where that takes him. And certainly when he gets back on ice, if it is going to be later in the summer, we will see where that goes. And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we will be in constant communication with Patrik.”  

It seems like Shero and the Devils could be interested in giving Elias one last hurrah. They may feel his veteran leadership could be very beneficial to the young roster that New Jersey has put together. If all goes well with his rehabilitation over the summer, he may get that one final run with the only team he has ever played for.