Ryan Ellis

[byeyimini]

Seems like only Nashville could keep a dman of this level stashed in the OHL for this long. I know the knock on him is his size. But Liles, Enstrom, Rafalski, etc seem to get it done and they are about his size. But, yeah he is still quite young though. He's been so good for so long, seems like he's been around forever. Just wondering when he gets his chance ? Is he better served to wait it out and get drafted again by a team with less depth on 'D' ? (I don't know if he's signed). Anyway, curious what you guys think. Perhaps I am rushing him !?!

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[OHLTG]

First off...

Nashville, Tenn. (October 19, 2009) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed defenseman Ryan Ellis, the club’s first choice (11th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Second...

I have zero doubt that Ellis will start getting his chance next season. Being a 91, I don't think he could have played in the AHL this year, so it was Nashville or Windsor. He wasn't likely to crack the Preds line-up, so it was back to Windsor. Now, though, he's done just about everything you can in Windsor (two Memorial Cups, team captain, 35-40 min a game, WJC, etc), and you know he's itching to move on.

While there's a chance he could return to Windsor for an OA year in 2011/2012, expect him to be in the AHL or, maybe, in the NHL.

 

[Leaf Fever]

There is no doubt that this is Ryan Ellis' last year of junior. He will most likely start next year in the AHL, and his play will dictate whether he deserves a spot on the Predators' blueline. Nashville never rushes their defensemen, so it could be a year or two before we see Ellis in the NHL.

 

[david999]

It will be interesting to see what he can do in the AHL next year if that's where he goes. I would love to see him get a chance with the Preds, but they are just too deep on defence.

 

[Analyzer*]

From what I've read, even their fans think he's MAB 2.0.

 

[Karlssonlee]

Never a fan of his.

He's a competitor no doubt, but doesn't have the speed or size.

He will be a powerplay specialist.

 

[The Norris]

Nashville have two great (and young) pucking moving defencemen - Jonathon Blum and Roman Josi - sitting with their AHL affiliate.

So when you have so many quality defencemen in your system (both in the NHL and AHL) it's sometimes becomes very difficult to find roster spots. Therefore, it's much easier to bury a player in junior.

 

[SpItFiReZ]

I wasn't going to comment in this thread cause I to have my doubts.

However, his biggest knocks are his size and skating.

His skating has definitely improved leaps and bounds but I wouldn't put him on an NHL level....yet.

His biggest issues next year will be him having to get used to not being the guy, only playing 10-15 minutes a game and difference between junior (where he dominates) and AHL (where he will be new)

 

[Chance on Chance]

i think they should move him to wing or something. i just cant see him handeling the big guys in the corners or in front of the net in the NHL.

 

[byeyimini]

I wasn't going to comment in this thread cause I to have my doubts.

However, his biggest knocks are his size and skating.

His skating has definitely improved leaps and bounds but I wouldn't put him on an NHL level....yet.

His biggest issues next year will be him having to get used to not being the guy, only playing 10-15 minutes a game and difference between junior (where he dominates) and AHL (where he will be new)

Hey SpItFiReZ, give it to us honestly. A year ago at this time, would you have predicted Fowler almost having his first season in the NHL under his belt vs Ellis for another year in the 'O' ? I watched them both play (just once live, the rest on TV) and I really didn't think Fowler was ahead of Ellis in development. Crazy what a year can do in the life of a kid. You saw them a lot I bet. Did you think watching them side-by-side like that, was there that much difference ?

 

[PaPaDee]

I think he can be a good #2/#3 Dman.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Hey SpItFiReZ, give it to us honestly. A year ago at this time, would you have predicted Fowler almost having his first season in the NHL under his belt vs Ellis for another year in the 'O' ? I watched them both play (just once live, the rest on TV) and I really didn't think Fowler was ahead of Ellis in development. Crazy what a year can do in the life of a kid. You saw them a lot I bet. Did you think watching them side-by-side like that, was there that much difference ?

I've seen both play live about 10x last season and I would have Ellis >>> Fowler. (not even close)
The only advantage that Fowler would have is skating.
(and I'm the farthest you can get from being an Ellis fan, not so much on ability but on his constant whining)

 

[SpItFiReZ]

I've seen both play live about 10x last season and I would have Ellis >>> Fowler. (not even close)
The only advantage that Fowler would have is skating.
(and I'm the farthest you can get from being an Ellis fan, not so much on ability but on his constant whining)

Ward Cornell is pretty right.

However, Fowler jumping to the NHL and having the impact he has doesn't shock me to an extent but I am suprised how well he is doing it.

Fowler's skating was better than most NHLers last year and that is a huge reason for his success. However, he had a pillow of a shot and had no physicality in his game.

Ellis is smarter with the puck than Fowler and probably has a better hockey sense/IQ as well. Fowler had the legs and size to his advantage. In junior, I take Ellis over Fowler but in the NHL I am really curious to see how Ellis handles it.

Him and Weber on a point though......wow.

 

[SpItFiReZ]

For the record as well.

I have seen Ryan Ellis over 115 times and Fowler over 50 times so I do have a pretty good idea of how they play.

Hell I have only missed 3 regular season games over the last three years and only miss road playoff games if they are further away.

Kitchener, London, Plymouth, Sarnia are all games I have been to here and there as well.

 

[Karlssonlee]

It's hard to think of a defenseman in the NHL with his small stature and sub-par skating.

I simple can't think of a defenseman in the NHL that is comparable, who is a small defenseman and has mediocre skating abilities.

Rafalski, Boyle, Karlsson, Enstrom, are all way better skaters.

He's a smart kid, reads the play well enough.He may be able to react to a play quick enough but will he get there in time and can he compete in the corners.

I'm much more impressed by Josi and Blum

 

[Ward Cornell]

For the record as well.

I have seen Ryan Ellis over 115 times and Fowler over 50 times so I do have a pretty good idea of how they play.

Hell I have only missed 3 regular season games over the last three years and only miss road playoff games if they are further away.

Kitchener, London, Plymouth, Sarnia are all games I have been to here and there as well.

In case you haven't gathered....Ranger fan here.
I agree 100% with your assessment!

Ellis may be one of the smartest players that I've seen.
(His ability to anticipate to cut-off the puck and keep it in before it gets shot out of the defensive is unreal)

 

[SpItFiReZ]

It's hard to think of a defenseman in the NHL with his small stature and sub-par skating.

I simple can't think of a defenseman in the NHL that is comparable, who is a small defenseman and has mediocre skating abilities.

Rafalski, Boyle, Karlsson, Enstrom, are all way better skaters.

He's a smart kid, reads the play well enough.He may be able to react to a play quick enough but will he get there in time and can he compete in the corners.

I'm much more impressed by Josi and Blum

I don't think his skating is mediocre. He's not an NHL standard but I've seen him out race prospects such as Jared Knight, Ryan Spooner and so on and beat them there.

Also, he's a strong kid. One of the better upper strengths on the Spits both this year and last. He just doesn't look big. He gained 14 lbs this summer in muscle but has lost about 9 of that 14 due to all the minutes and hockey he plays.

He's smart in the corners and pushes guys to the boards while using his stick a lot. His stick checking abilities are some of the best I have seen. Its also interesting since he is one of the better open ice hitters from a guy his size that I have seen.

If he was 6'1" - 185 lbs in his draft year, he would of went before Schenn and Kane for 4th, 5th spot.

 

[thepublichairs]

Would love to see the Leafs try to get this guy. He is going to be one hell of a player.

 

[4thliner*]

Whatever Ellis has Ryan Murphy has more of it plus the elite skating needed if you are a pin sized player.

 

[Nalens Oga]

I doubt we'll ever get to see Ryan Ellis' full offensive ability under current conservative Nashville mgmt. I guarantee a prospect like Wilson would have scored more if he wasn't on Nashville.

 

[Top 6 Spaling]

First off, Ellis is gonna have a hard time getting anywhere near our roster. Blum, as proved by his recent call-up, if #1 on the depth chart, and our AHL coach said Josi is more talented than Suter or Weber was at his age, so he obviously has a bright future.

I think Preds fans are cautiously optimistic. We know he has the potential to be a star or a bust, so we aren't delusional in thinking hes a sure-fire top pairing guy. Honestly, i think there's a 50-50 shot of him being MAB or Brian Rafalski.

 

[Jebuz]

Whatever Ellis has Ryan Murphy has more of it plus the elite skating needed if you are a pin sized player.

Murphy is lacking the intangibles that Ellis has, leadership qualities, high-caliper championship experience (memorial cup, three world juniors) and his endurance, for those of you who don't get a chance to watch Spitfires game Ellis regularly plays 30-40 minutes a night. You must have never played competitive hockey because if you have you would understand how much these qualities mean to a team.

If those don't mean anything to you, you'll still have a hard time convincing me that Murphy is more offensively gifted then Ellis.

His size and skating are troublesome ill admit, however they have improved by leaps and bounds since he was drafted, the only concern I have with him now is that he has to crack arguably the best prospective blue line in the NHL.

 

[predfan24]

First off, Ellis is gonna have a hard time getting anywhere near our roster. Blum, as proved by his recent call-up, if #1 on the depth chart, and our AHL coach said Josi is more talented than Suter or Weber was at his age, so he obviously has a bright future.

I think Preds fans are cautiously optimistic. We know he has the potential to be a star or a bust, so we aren't delusional in thinking hes a sure-fire top pairing guy. Honestly, i think there's a 50-50 shot of him being MAB or Brian Rafalski.

Ellis might end up being a PP and puckmoving specialist that plays protected minutes but he won't be MAB. I'd say the better description of Ellis is he might not reach his high potential but it's unlikely he completely busts.

 

[predfan24]

His size and skating are troublesome ill admit, however they have improved by leaps and bounds since he was drafted, the only concern I have with him now is that he has to crack arguably the best prospective blue line in the NHL.

If he is truly good enough and ready to play protected EV minutes he will make the team in the next year or two. We have some good young offensive D-men who can play the PP but we badly need an elite PP QB in the worst way.

 

[Knave]

Never a fan of his.

He's a competitor no doubt, but doesn't have the speed or size.

He will be a powerplay specialist.

This is kind of how I feel and I've seen nothing that has changed my opinion of him.