- Dan Ellis
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For other people of the same name, see Daniel Ellis (disambiguation).
Dan Ellis 
Born June 19, 1980
Saskatoon, SK, CANHeight 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) Position Goaltender Catches Left NHL team
Former teamsAnaheim Ducks
Dallas Stars
Nashville Predators
Tampa Bay LightningNHL Draft 60th overall, 2000
Dallas StarsPlaying career 2003–present Daniel Ellis (born June 19, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators.
Contents
Playing career
Minors
Dan Ellis started his hockey career with the Omaha Lancers, in the USHL where he was awarded Goaltender of the Year, Player of the Year and named a First Team All-Star. The Dallas Stars drafted Ellis in the 2nd round, 60th overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. HE went to DVMS For the 2003–2004 season, Ellis split time between the Utah Grizzlies and Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL, finishing the season with the Steelheads. In Idaho, Ellis would have great success, leading the team to a Kelly Cup Championship win and nabbing the 2004 Playoff MVP award with a record of 13–0 and a 1.86 goals-against average.
For the 2005–06 AHL season, Ellis spent his time exclusively with the Iowa Stars. He split playing time with fellow goalie Mike Smith, but ultimately lost the job as the season came to a close. He finished the season with a record of 16 wins, 13 losses and 1 tie.
Dallas Stars
Ellis made his NHL debut on February 8, 2004 against the Los Angeles Kings. Ellis made 25 saves en route to his first career win as Dallas defeated Los Angeles 4 - 3.
Nashville Predators
In 2007, Ellis signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators. Due to sub-standard play from starting goalie Chris Mason, Ellis took over the starting goaltender duties for the Predators for the 2007–08 NHL season. On October 25, 2007, in only his second career start, his first with the Predators—who signed him as a free agent on July 5, 2007—he won 3–0 against the Atlanta Thrashers, making 20 saves en route to his first NHL shutout. On November 1, 2007, he posted another shutout against the Vancouver Canucks for his fourth win of the season. He played very well down the stretch, posting two shutouts in the final few games and leading the Predators to the playoffs.
Ellis posted impressive statistics during the 2007–2008 season, being among the top goaltenders in save percentage (1st), shutouts (T-3rd), and GAA (12th). He also received national coverage for his excessive weight loss during games, receiving intravenous fluids after games, and for his shutout streak of 233:39 over the course of four games.
He earned the nickname "snowstorm" in the spring of 2008 when the poor play of Ellis and teammate Chris Mason caused the team to call up minor-league goalie Pekka Rinne. However, Rinne was delayed from joining the team due to a snowstorm and Ellis was given the start in the subsequent game against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 22, 2008. He held the Blackhawks to one goal on 38 shots and led the Predators to a 2–1 shootout victory. This victory earned him the starting job for the team, lasting into the 2008 playoffs.
He was the starting goalie for Nashville in their 2008 first-round series against the number one-seeded Detroit Red Wings. Ellis stopped 71 of 78 shots he faced in the first two games, both losses. Back home at Nashville for games three and four, he proceeded to stop 62 of 67 shots as the Predators won both games at home to tie the series at 2. Game 5 was Ellis' best game of the series as he made 52 saves in a 2–1 overtime loss. The Red Wings closed out the series in Game 6 at Nashville with a 3–0 win. Ellis was victimized by Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidström's skipping shot from behind center ice for the game's first goal, which turned out to be the winner. At the conclusion of the season, Ellis was named winner of the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award for having the best save percentage in the NHL.
On June 19, 2008, Ellis was re-signed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract by the Predators. During the 2008–09 season, Ellis wasn't as sharp as the previous season, recording only 11 wins compared to his 23 wins of the previous season. Because of this, Rinne, who was Nashville's backup goaltender at the start of the season, took over the starting job. Ellis recorded 15 wins in 31 appearances during the 2009–10 NHL Season with a 2.69 goals-against-average.
Montreal Canadiens and free agency
On June 29, 2010, his negotiation rights, along with Dustin Boyd were traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Sergei Kostitsyn and future considerations. Without a deal in place before July 1, 2010, Ellis became an unrestricted free agent.
Tampa Bay Lightning
He signed a two year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent on July 1, 2010.[1]
Twitter Controversy
On September 8, 2010, Ellis lashed out to the public, via his Twitter account expressing frustration and anger towards the 24 percent pay cut NHL players took when the 2004-05 lockout was settled with the new collective bargaining agreement, stating "I am more stressed about money now than I was in college." He then stated "players deserve the money they get because they are specialists."[2]
Despite signing a two-year, $3 million contract with the Lightning, Ellis added, "If you lost 18% of your income would you be happy? If you don’t make a lot of money, I don’t expect you to understand." When a negative reception ensued, he told followers, "I am not holding a gun at your head to follow so do yourself a favor." He than retracted his statement released by the Lightning, stating "I am deeply sorry if I offended anyone via my recent statements on Twitter. I should have known better." Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune commented, "No matter the point, pro athletes are better off not talking money during such turbulent times."[3]
Anaheim Ducks
On February 24, 2011 Ellis was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in a goalie swap for Curtis McElhinney. After posting a solid 8-3 record upon his arrival in Anaheim, he made a postseason start in round one of the 2011 Playoffs, but lost the starting job to Ray Emery after allowing four goals on 24 shots.
Career statistics
Regular season
Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1999–00 Omaha Lancers USHL 55 34 16 4 — 3274 123 11 2.25 .925 2000–01 University of Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 40 21 14 3 — 2285 95 0 2.49 .911 2001–02 University of Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 40 20 15 4 — 2405 97 0 2.42 .919 2002–03 University of Nebraska-Omaha NCAA 39 11 21 5 — 2211 117 0 3.18 .900 2003–04 Utah Grizzlies AHL 20 5 14 0 — 1130 55 2 2.92 .909 2003–04 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 23 13 8 1 — 1334 57 2 2.56 .909 2003–04 Dallas Stars NHL 1 1 0 0 — 60 3 0 3.00 .893 2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 31 10 19 0 — 1773 82 1 2.77 .908 2005–06 Iowa Stars AHL 34 16 13 1 — 1857 86 2 2.78 .911 2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 55 30 21 1 — 3194 148 4 2.78 .894 2007–08 Nashville Predators NHL 44 23 10 — 3 2228 87 6 2.34 .924 2008–09 Nashville Predators NHL 35 11 19 — 4 1965 96 3 2.93 .900 2009–10 Nashville Predators NHL 31 15 13 — 1 1715 77 1 2.69 .909 2010–11 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 31 13 7 — 6 1679 82 2 2.93 .889 2010–11 Anaheim Ducks NHL 13 8 3 — 1 729 29 0 2.39 .917 NHL totals 155 71 52 0 15 8376 374 12 2.68 .908 Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1999–00 Omaha Lancers USHL 4 1 3 238 10 0 2.52 — 2003–04 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 16 13 3 966 30 3 1.86 .938 2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 12 6 6 679 35 0 3.09 — 2007–08 Nashville Predators NHL 6 2 4 356 15 0 2.52 .938 2010–11 Anaheim Ducks NHL 1 0 1 41 4 0 5.85 .833 NHL totals 7 2 5 398 19 0 2.87 .928 Awards
- NHL Second Star of the Week for week ending March 30, 2008 (233:39 shutout streak)
- Named to the CCHA Second All-Star Team in 2001–02
- Named the USHL Goaltender of the Year
- Named the USHL Player of the Year
- Named a USHL First Team All-Star
- Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award in 2007–08
Records
- Nashville Predators franchise record for longest shutout streak (233:39)
- Nashville Predators franchise record for saves and shots faced in a single game (52)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) franchise record records for games played (118)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) franchise record records for games started (117)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) franchise record records for wins (53)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) franchise record records for shutouts (7)
- University of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) franchise record records for saves (3,125)
Personal life
He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but was raised in Orangeville, Ontario.He moved to Nebraska when his career began and resides during the off-season in Omaha.
References
- ^ "Goaltender Ellis signs two-year deal with Lightning". TSN, July 1, 2010.
- ^ http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightning-goaltender-dan-ellis-apologizes-twitterinternet-dustup
- ^ http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightning-goaltender-dan-ellis-apologizes-twitterinternet-dustup
External links
Categories:- 1980 births
- Anaheim Ducks players
- Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
- Dallas Stars draft picks
- Hamilton Bulldogs players
- Ice hockey people from Saskatchewan
- Idaho Steelheads players
- Iowa Stars players
- Living people
- Nashville Predators players
- Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey players
- People from Orangeville, Ontario
- People from Saskatoon
- Tampa Bay Lightning players
- Utah Grizzlies players
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