Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

After 20-game absence, Elias to make season debut for Devils

Montreal Canadiens v New Jersey Devils

Patrik Elias

NHLI via Getty Images

It took a while, but Patrik Elias’ campaign is ready to get underway.

Elias, who’s yet to play this year because of a knee injury, says he’ll be in the New Jersey lineup tonight when the Devils host the Blue Jackets at Prudential (per The Record).

The 39-year-old’s presence should provide an emotional lift in front of the home crowd.

A lifelong Devil -- only Ken Daneyko and Martin Brodeur have appeared in more games -- fans may be witnessing Elias’ last year in uniform. It’s fair to suggest he could be on the verge of retirement, given he’s in the last of a three-year, $16.5 million deal and will turn 40 in April.

As for tonight, it’s not yet official who Elias will play with -- or how much he’ll play. He did take line rushes with Jacob Josefson and Stefan Matteau at Tuesday’s practice.