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Patrik Elias says he’s not a Stanley Cup puck thief

2012 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 11: Willie Mitchell #33 of the Los Angeles Kings and Patrik Elias #26 of the New Jersey Devils shake hands after the Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to win the Stanley Cup final series 4-2 after Game Six of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on June 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Aside from having lengthy and impressive hockey careers, it’s not often that New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger are linked. Following the Los Angeles Kings’ first-ever Stanley Cup win, that was exactly what happened, as observers wondered if Elias pulled some Pronger-esque puck burglary. Elias denied those insidious allegations to Rich Chere, however.

“I don’t have it. I have no idea where it is,” Elias told me today. “I grabbed it when the whistle blew. I had it in front of me and I picked it up with my stick. I went over to Marty (Brodeur) and then I sat on the bench and I think I left it there.”

“I understand it’s a meaningful thing for them. For me? No. Why would I want to keep a losing Stanley Cup puck?”

Chere asked two key questions: 1) did Elias (or someone else) throw the puck into the crowd and 2) did he hand the puck to Martin Brodeur, knowing that could have been his last game? Elias denied both claims.

It’s an amusing situation that might even call for an update on an old PHT cartoon, but the Kings aren’t amused. Luc Robitaille told Bill Plaschke as much.

“This is a big deal,” Robitaille said. “We’ve got to get that puck back.”

“If a Devil had it, he might not have been real happy with it, he might have thrown it in the stands. If one of our fans has it, we will make a deal with them to get it back. We need that puck.”

Robitaille didn’t say, “So, cough it up Elias or Brodeur” but it would’ve been fantastic if he did. Oh well. At least the Kings still have that big, shiny, silver thing to remind them of their accomplishments, right?