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Another Day, Another NHL Mumps Case: New Jersey Devils’ Patrik Elias

By Phil Watson

Nov 25, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias (26) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena.The Vancouver Canucks won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias (26) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Rogers Arena.The Vancouver Canucks won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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On the same day the New Jersey Devils fired coach Peter DeBoer, the team learned veteran center Patrik Elias does, in fact, have the mumps.

Tough day in Newark.

The New Jersey Devils announced Friday that veteran center Patrik Elias has the mumps and, at the very least, won’t play when the team crosses the Hudson to play the New York Rangers Saturday night.

According to Tom Gulitti of The Record:

Elias is in his 19th season with New Jersey and has played in 29 of the Devils’ 36 games this season, with four goals and 13 points.

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Elias, 38, is the franchise’s all-time leader with 397 goals and 996 points.  Drafted in the second round in 1994 by the Devils, Elias made his NHL debut on Dec. 7, 1995, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He’s been with the club for two of its three Stanley Cup titles (1999-2000 and 2002-03).

The news was better for left wing Martin Havlat, who just has a viral infection but did not test positive for mumps. In any event, Havlat won’t play against the Blueshirts on Saturday, either.

It was a big—if dark—day for New Jersey. Coach Peter DeBoer was fired, with a replacement—at least on an interim basis—expected to be named Saturday.

The Devils are 12-17-7 this season, seventh in the eight-team Metropolitan Division.

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