How About Patrik Elias Just Casually Sitting In The Stands During The Devils Home Opener?

If this picture isn't cloaked in symbolism than it's very apparent that I don't know what the word 'symbolism' even means. The one thing that has gone almost eerily unspoken by the Devils brass is whether or not Patrik Elias has any intention of playing once he gets healthy. You could say that his potential return is hovering silently over the team. Ya know, sort of like he is by - somehow unassumingly - taking a seat amongst the poor folk and enjoying a winning effort by the team he's been a vital piece of for the better part of two decades from afar. I can honestly say I have no idea what his or the Devils plans are for the immediate future, but - if this snapshot is any indication - then I think we can rest assured that he'll be a part of the organization in some capacity.

I'm assuming that there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding his status and that's why he's chilling in the lower bowl looking like an accountant that came straight from the office instead of potentially causing a distraction by being around the team. That Patrik Elias, never fails to do what he thinks is best for the logo on the front and not the name on the back - even if it means slumming it in the cheap(er) seats. Now all that remains to be seen is whether he (and the organization) thinks that's what's best for the team is eventually joining them on the ice or helping to run them from the front office. My heart says his playing says aren't over, but my brain is significantly less sure. Either way, it's good to know that he's being as inconspicuous as a (probable) future 'Hall Of Famer' can be in the arena he's called home since it's doors opened while keeping up with day-to-day performance of his...uhhh....former(?) teammates. There are worse things than having the consummate professional (and prototypical Devil) invested in the success of the franchise that he helped bring multiple championships to as they work back towards achieving that same goal.


h/t Reddit