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New Jersey Devils: Patrick Elias Belongs In The Hall Of Fame

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 24: Former New Jersey Devil Patrik Elias #26 jersey is lifted during a retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 24: Former New Jersey Devil Patrik Elias #26 jersey is lifted during a retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils are a team loaded with history. You. can make a claim that the best forward in franchise history should be in the Hall of Fame.

The New Jersey Devils have had so many great players play for them. Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup Champions grace the history of this team. There are only a few players that are more important than Patrik Elias. He celebrated his 44th birthday yesterday, so we look back at his incredible career in the National Hockey League. He spent all 20 years of his career with the New Jersey Devils and became the greatest forward in the history of the franchise.

Elias had an incredible career over those 20 years. He was a player that deserves serious consideration for the National Hockey Hall of Fame. He had 408 goals and 617 assists for 1025 points in 1240 games. All of those points came in the career of an elite defensive winger. Players didn’t really have much success with the Devils unless they were good defensively, especially earlier on in their history.

Elias was the type of winger who was good defensively while putting up elite offensive numbers. Players like Marian Hossa and Mark Stone are good comparables for a guy like Elias. He had been given some votes for the Selke Trophy in four different seasons in addition to coming as high as sixth in the race for the Hart Trophy. He was also an NHL All-Star in addition to being a two-time Stanley Cup Champion.

He had many great moments with the red and black sweater on, but none were more memorable than his overtime pass to Jason Arnott to win New Jersey its second Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Devils had a 3-2 series lead in Dallas for Game 6 and Elias’s no-look pass to Arnott won New Jersey the Cup. It was a brilliant play by those two who had been so good all season long. It was the most memorable of a lot of great moments created by Elias.

His legendary number 26 hangs in the rafters of the Prudential Center forever. So that begs the question, should he be in the Hall of Fame with all of these accolades supporting him? His numbers might not be quite as prolific as some other Hall of Famers but they are if you consider his defensive game as well. He has 400-plus goals and 1000-plus points and is a multi-time champion. He certainly should be in the Hall of Fame in the eyes of most Devils fans and even some people who aren’t.

His numbers speak for itself so hopefully, voters are able to give him the nod one day. He was a brilliant player for this team for a long time. The Hall of Fame is a true honor so adding another New Jersey Devils superstar there would be so much fun to watch.

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