Patrik Eliáš

Rookie season and early development (1994–1999)

Eliáš was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 51st overall, in the 1994 NHL entry draft. He had been surprised by the selection as he believed no Devils scout had ever seen him play. Due to mandatory conscription laws, Eliáš had to show the police his contract in order to be excused from the army. After being cut from training camp, the Devils coaching staff were set to assign him to a major junior ice hockey team for the 1995–96 season. However, Eliáš convinced them to assign him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany River Rats. He scored his first two AHL goals in the team's 1995–96 season opener on 7 October. He later received a two-game suspension for making an "obscene gesture" during a game against the Adirondack Red Wings. Eliáš made his NHL debut on 7 December 1995 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Due to the sudden nature of the recall, team owner John McMullen flew him on a private jet from Providence, Rhode Island to New Jersey. Upon returning to Albany, Eliáš tied a franchise record by recording two goals and three assists in a single game on 14 February 1996. He finished the regular season with 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points. While Eliáš spent the majority of the 1996–97 season in the AHL with the Albany River Rats, he was occasionally recalled to the Devils lineup. He scored his first NHL regular-season goal on 12 December 1996 against the Boston Bruins. Eliáš…

Regular season and playoffs

International

Eliáš was born on 13 April 1976 in Třebíč, Czechoslovakia to Zdeňka Eliášová and Zdeněk Eliáš. Eliáš and his older brothers Zdenek and Radek played organized hockey in Czechoslovakia, although the latter was forced to retire due to an injury.

Eliáš married Petra Volakova, also a native Czech, in the 2007 off-season. Together they have two daughters. On 10 January 2018, Eliáš became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Due to his experience with Hepatitis A, Eliáš became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2006. In his role as an ambassador, he volunteered in Belize with Czech UNICEF in 2008.