The New Jersey Devils will retire Patrik Elias' No. 26 prior to Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, joining defensemen Ken Daneyko (No. 3), Scott Stevens (No. 4), Scott Niedermayer (No. 27), and goaltender Martin Brodeur (No. 30).

In advance of the honor, Devils past and present reflected on Elias' game and impact on the organization, both on and off the ice. Here are some excerpts from those remarks, via Mike Morreale of NHL.com.

Head coach John Hynes:

Patrik is one of the best players to ever play here. He epitomizes what a Devil is. He's a highly talented player but driven, competitive, and loyal. My first year in the NHL was his last, but his insights, care level for the organization, and the impact he has had on the leaders we have now, like the Andy Greenes, the Travis Zajacs, has been tremendous. He continues to impact those guys, and his legacy is still in our locker room.

Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise:

He was always good to me as a young guy, and I learned a lot from him. I had a lot of fun playing with him. I thought we had some good chemistry when he and I played together. I didn't know much about him until I got here; I knew he had good seasons, but I don't feel like he ever got the attention or the accolades he deserved, and I think he's one of those guys that you understand how good of a player he is when you play with him.

General manager Ray Shero:

I remember seeing him for the first time and thinking he was a lot bigger than I thought he was; he's a big dude. I know I only got to see him play 16 games as general manager here in New Jersey, but one of the best things for me and coach John Hynes is that he's been incredible to deal with, especially in our first year ...

I couldn't speak more highly of him as a person. He made players around him better. He had a great awareness on the ice and great instincts you couldn't teach. He was so clutch in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and has created so many great memories with the same organization and that's something you don't see that often. The fans just adore Patrik Elias, and that's something I believe he really appreciates.

Scott Stevens:

He kind of went under the radar a little bit but was just a smart hockey player who could play in any situation. I mean, let's be realistic, we were a great defensive team, but when we needed a big goal he was either scoring that goal or setting that goal up. That's what he was for us. There's no question he's the most deserving forward in the history of the Devils because of what he brought to the table for us. He was a great all-around player, a smart player, could slow the game down and make plays and scored big goals.

Captain Andy Greene:

Just the way he handled himself on and off the ice and taught me how to be a pro. Watching him prepare in the summers, during the season and workouts and the way he trained and (handled his) diet was great. I just think the loyalty he showed here, and how much he loved being a Devil and what that meant to him and his family were tremendous. Yes, he was a really good offensive player, but he was also a really good defensive forward, too. Whatever the team needed him to be, he did it and sacrificed. He always put the organization first.

Elias is the franchise leader in points (1,025), goals (408), assists (617), and points in a season (96 in 2000-01), and he's also a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2000, 2003).

He announced his retirement last March after being limited due to a knee injury.

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The Ottawa Senators appear to have their goaltender of the future.

In pulling off a three-team deal Friday that sent Derick Brassard to Pittsburgh - with Vegas retaining 40 percent of the forward's salary - general manager Pierre Dorion landed Swedish goalie Filip Gustavsson, whom he's understandably high on.

"In this deal, we have acquired an elite goaltending prospect," Dorion said. "We feel that Gustavsson is one of the game's top goaltending prospects, a dynamic talent who has excelled in the Swedish Hockey League as a teenager and was the top goaltender at the most recent world junior championship."

Gustavsson, 19, was drafted 55th overall by the Penguins in 2016 but has yet to make his North American professional debut. He's appeared in 18 games for Swedish club Luleå this season, posting a save percentage of .917. At the recent world juniors, he posted a .924 save percentage in six games while also winning a silver medal and being named the best goalie in the tournament.

The Senators also received a first-round pick in 2018, a third-round pick in 2019, and defenseman Ian Cole, who will reportedly be flipped prior to Monday's trade deadline.

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Vladimir Tarasenko has come to the defense of his goaltender.

Following Friday's 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Blues forward was quick to stand behind netminder Jake Allen, who ended the night with just 19 saves and caught the attention of the boo birds at Scottrade Center.

"Me personally, I know how hard (Allen) works, I know how much he's done for the organization and especially this year and last year," Tarasenko told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "I don't understand why people blame the goalies. That's wrong."

Captain Alex Pietrangelo echoed Tarasenko's comments.

"I don't like it. It's been bothering me," Pietrangelo said of the home crowd's reaction to Allen. "I'm not going to say anything about the fans, but it's disappointing to hear that. We've got his back."

While there was at least one goal Friday that Allen would have liked back, the team in front of him did little to produce any offense of its own, and Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck came away with a shutout.

The Blues have registered just three goals in their past three games.

As for Allen, Friday's loss brings his season record to 19-18-2, coupled with a .906 save percentage.

For the team's Sunday matchup against the Nashville Predators, it's possible that Blues bench boss Mike Yeo could turn to second-stringer Carter Hutton, who owns a 15-6-2 record and .938 save rate this year.

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Jim Rutherford has orchestrated many moves over the years, but the deal he made Friday for center Derick Brassard was certainly the most complicated.

"This is the most complex trade I've made," the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager said. "We thought we had the deal made earlier in the day - we had to make a couple changes. There were cap issues and how it was made with the three teams."

Initial reports indicated a deal was reached between the Penguins and Ottawa Senators, however, the transaction was deemed unacceptable by the league.

Enter the Vegas Golden Knights, who, as part of the three-way trade, first acquired Brassard in order to retain 40 percent of his contract. The Golden Knights then dealt Brassard to the Penguins for forward Ryan Reaves and a fourth-round draft pick in 2018.

For the Penguins, the addition of Brassard ends Rutherford's season-long search for a third-line center.

"He's got 18 goals, 38 points. He plays center. We've tried to get more depth at center and more insurance there," Rutherford added. "What we're trying to do now is win."

Brassard also makes the Penguins one of the league's deepest down the middle, as he'll line up behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

The addition wasn't lost in the locker room, as the Penguins aim to be the first team to capture three straight Stanley Cups since 1983.

"Management stepped up," said Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist.

A 6-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday moved the Penguins to 76 points on the season and into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

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Ian Cole better wait on investigating Ottawa real estate.

Sent to the Senators in the three-team trade that made center Derick Brassard a member of the Penguins, the former Pittsburgh blue-liner could be headed to another new home prior to Monday's trade deadline, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

With the Senators sitting outside of a playoff position, the team is seemingly entering a sell-off prior to Feb. 26, with defenseman Dion Phaneuf already dealt to the Los Angeles Kings earlier this month. The possibility remains that Ottawa could also move captain Erik Karlsson.

Cole, 29, has collected 13 points in 47 games with Pittsburgh this year. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

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The Derick Brassard trade required some re-tooling, but it's a done deal.

Here's the full trade, as confirmed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night:

Pittsburgh receives Brassard, forward Vincent Dunn, winger Tobias Lindberg, and a third-round pick in 2018.

The Ottawa Senators get defenseman Ian Cole, goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson, a first-rounder in 2018, and a third-round selection in 2019.

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Ryan Reaves and a fourth-rounder in June's draft.

The Golden Knights are also retaining 40 percent of Brassard's salary this season as part of the trade.

He's earning $3.5 million in total salary this season and next, per CapFriendly, and his cap hit is $5 million.

The NHL asked the three teams involve

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Call it the domino effect.

With Ottawa Senators center Derick Brassard reportedly on the move, teams are now turning their attention to Montreal Canadiens pivot Tomas Plekanec, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

The veteran center is a pending unrestricted free agent and is a prime target to be dealt ahead of Monday's trade deadline, particularly with the Canadiens sitting outside of the playoff race.

Plekanec, 35, has spent his entire career with the Canadiens, and has been a steady offensive contributor up until the past two campaigns. Through 60 games this season, Plekanec has tallied six goals and 18 assists.

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