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New Jersey Devils: Will Patrik Elias Go In Hall Of Fame Today?

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 24: Former New Jersey Devil Patrik Elias speaks during his Jersey Retirement Night prior to the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders on February 24, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 24: Former New Jersey Devil Patrik Elias speaks during his Jersey Retirement Night prior to the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders on February 24, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils are a team loaded with legends in their history. That begs the question of whether or not Patrik Elias will make it in?

Everyone who has followed the New Jersey Devils for a long time knows about Patrik Elias and how important he is to the franchise. He is one of five players to have his number retired and the only forward with the honor for the franchise. He is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer after playing for them so admirably over 20 years, all with the Devils.

Later today, we will find out who is going to be a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class. There are some locks like Marian Hossa and Jarome Iginla, but Elias hopes he gets enough votes to be in there with them. This is his second year on the ballot which seems like a fair year to have Elias enter the Hall. New Jersey fans know how good he was but he was mostly underrated from a national media point of view so it is no lock that he ever gets in a all.

The numbers make a nice claim for him, however. He had 408 goals and 617 assists for 1025 points in 1240 games. He is a two time Stanley Cup Champion which also enhances his amazing legacy. He was a great two way forward as well, which makes his offensive numbers look even more impressive. If he cheated towards offense more often, he probably would have had even more points. Hossa is going to get in and he was the same type of player on the wing.

Elias’ CorsiFor was 54.8 percent which means that New Jersey had the puck more when Elias was on the ice which means they were also more likely to score than be scored on with him out there. It shows in his nice career plus-172 rating. He was a great player in all facets of the game for multiple different Devils’ eras which should probably earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

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He was a very important player on a team that won multiple championships as well as his awesome regular-season numbers. Those teams in the early 2000s played a certain way and Elias was still able to put up some awesome numbers offensively. There is little doubt about him being the greatest forward in the history of the team. He should be in the Hall of Fame as a result.

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