Patrik Elias out three to six weeks following groin surgery, to miss Devils' regular season opener

Devils forward Patrik Elias underwent surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia to clean up some scar tissue in his groin and will be out for three to six weeks, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said this morning (10:15 a.m).

That mean Elias will miss the team's regular season opener against Philadelphia on Oct. 3.

Dr.William Meyers, the a sports hernia specialist who performed the groin surgery on Elias four years ago, also performed this procedure, which was done arthroscopically.

"His groin had stll been bothering him, but his hip was feeling fine, so we decided to send him to see the doctor who originally did his groin surgery four years ago, Dr. Myers in Philadelphia," Lamoriello said. "After consultation with our doctors and Dr. Myers, what he did was he decided to look and see what was going on there after the MRI. It happens that he had a lot of scar tissue that had been built up in that area and he just broke up the scar tissue. Everything went extremely well and what we're using as a time frame is anywhere from three to six weeks. And when I say six weeks, [it's] being fully ready to play, depending upon where his conditioning is. But the doctor felt that he could be fairly aggressive right away because it was simplistically scar tissue."

Lamoriello said Elias is already walking and is to return to New Jersey today.

"All I know is everything went extemely well and he'll be getting right at it aggressively, immediately," Lamoriello said; "Then, it's a question of when he's in shape, when he's ready and how he feels."

Elias had surgery on June 12 in Vail, Colo. to repair a torn labrum, a tear in his adductor muscle and an impingement on his hip, but was still experiencing some discomfort in his groin, which dated back to last season. He had been skating on his own for more than three weeks, but wasn't able to practice with the team, so he went to see Dr. Myers in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Lamoriello insisted that it was "a totally different situation" from Elias' earlier surgery and the sports hernia surgrery Jamie Langenbrunner had two years ago. In fact, Lamoriello viewed Elias' surgery as a positive.

"We know exactly what it is and it's something that, quite frankly, is good news because his groin was bothering him for a couple of weeks." Lamoriello said. "In my opinion, it's good news." 

Lamoriello said Elias' status will not change how the team approaches the start of the season in terms of personnel (making a trade, signing someone).

"We'll just see how things go," he said. "We'll just see how we look. We've got some excellent people here as far as young players, so we'll se how we look, how we go and how Jacques feels about things. Right now, these things happen."

So, it appears head coach Jacques Lemaire will have to work with what he has -- at least for now.

"We'll be looking for another center," Lemaire said. "He's an important part of this organization, but we have to expect that. I'm getting used to this, missing the top player."

Lemaire was referring to last season when he to play most of it without the injured Marian Gaborik, who had hip surgery.

If there is a positive to Elias' injury, it's that it will give the Devils' young players a chance to show what they can do.

"You're not in a better position, that's for sure," Lemaire said. "What's good is someone else in the organization will have a chance to play. That's the only thing that is good, that is positive."

This time will determine if the Devils have enough to get by without Elias until he returns or if they need to go outside the organization."

"We'll see," Lemaire said. "We'll see after the exhibition games and we'll see what the kids can do and then we'll talk after."

***

The lineup for tonight's preseason opener against the Rangers is the same as I posted Tuesday. Yann Danis will start in net and rookie Jeff Frazee will play the second half of the game.

***

Former Devils goaltender Kevin Weekes has signed on to be a commentator for Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL Network.

Comments

[rob]

Shucks.
Get well soon, Patty!

[Kristen]

Oh boy. Get well soon!

[Maxwell]

This is not good, but at least he's not missing 3-6 when the season's already started.

[Shanafan]

I'm hoping this will end the discomfort and allow him to play at his max the rest of the season, post-recovery!

Get well soon Patty!!!

[Number6]

As long as he's at 100% for the playoffs (and we make it there) I'm not worried. Maybe it'll give some of our kids a little experience while he's recovering.

[Faulksy]

Weeksie was on NHL Network during the playoffs last year and I thought he sounded great, much better than some of the guys that are on the Versus/NBC broadcast, so congrats to him.

As for Elias, he will miss the first month of the season which is like 10 games, if he returns fully healthy I have no problems, lets fix all issues now.

[rob]

Go weekes!

[gooball420]

way to go Weekes!

[rob]

hmm.. elias misses 10 games. rookies are allowed 9 before having to return or stay on for the full year.. lucky coincidence...

[SouthJerseyDevilsFan]

Happy for Weekes--he's a great guy. Get well Patty.

[Tom]

Why didn't he get the surgery eariler?! Should have stayed home from World Champ.

[steve]

Cormier vs. Walter for temporary opening at center.

[kstatik]

Get well soon Patty! We need you out there.

Also congrats to Weekes. Sad how he was phased out like that...

[Jason]

Second time Elias has put world competition before his NHL obligations.

[Pat]

Rumor Rags want to trade Dubinsky for a veteran defenseman. Mottau anyone?

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/torts_may_need_vet_to_beef_up_blue_4djADcoW7pZ0cY2otThlON

Yeah, I know, no way.

I'd like to see Cormier get his 10 games in this year and then go back down seeing that we really need another center now.

[Anthony]

TG, any word on how many tickets will be available for the Lowell game this afternoon, or is it simply show up and get a seat? I can't imagine they'd fill out the arena, but I also don't know if they'll just take it first come first served.

[Warren]

Lou actually said, "In my opinion, it's good news." ??? The GM lets guys walk in free agency. Brings nothing back but a collection of young never-will-be's and then loses (arguably) his second best player and says that?

No wonder I just got bombarded with half-price ticket offers this morning. Who wants to pay to see this mess?

[DJ Dan]

Seems like this season is starting off like last one. Hopefully, this is the extent of the key injuries this time.

[Damian]

Anthony, from what I read earlier it said no admittance for the Lowell game.

[TG]

It's free admission to the Lowell game. Just show up.

[troy]

Guys,
Let's take a step back from this Elias injury for a moment.We have to look at it this way, would you rather him be out near the end of the season and miss the playoffs, or now where he may only miss a few games?
this gives our young guys a chance to impress, and if no one steps up, I do recall Lou saying that there maybe someone on his openong day roster, that wasn't on his team(ie:trade)

[modnarm]

wow u guys are nuts. I agree with Lou, this is GREAT news. Its scar tissue! big f'n deal. It could be a MILLION times worse. SO many other things coulda been wrong. He'll get this healed up, and be even more healthy than he was last year with the hip and everything.

Mottau is your definition for a veteran dman? He has 1 good season and the Rags would trade Dubinsky for Mottau and a 4th round pick maybe? i doubt it. We don't need Duby. Lets focus on our guys for now- which is what Lemaire and Lou are doing. We'll see how the kids do tonight. I hope they absolutely rape the stupid Rangers. I HOPE SOMEONE LAYS OUT AVERY!!!!! Whoever does gets a gold star for the night.

[Warren]

From the sublime to the surreal...now it's "GREAT" news? How long have you been watching sports?

Anytime any athlete undergoes any type of surgery it's bad news. ESPECIALLY one with Elias past history of health problems. There are always things that can and might go wrong. Set backs can always occur. You just never know.

But ya know what we do know? It's NOT great news!!!

[Tull]

I knew Weekes wouldn't get the kind of money he was looking for but I'm glad he got something! How much does a talking head get paid? Not more than the Devils were offering him... seems like the job is right up his alley though. Good luck Weeksie!

And get well soon Patty!

[Number6]

Obviously Lou was expecting the problem to be much worse.

Too bad Weeksie couldn't find a team that wanted him, but I'm sure he'll do well as a commentator. He's a good guy.

We COULD use Dubinsky (or any other decent center), but we've never traded with the Rags before, and I don't see us starting now, and I don't see us giving up a 2nd rounder for him by signing him as an RFA.