Time to Make a Trade with Ellis

Stat #1 2.48 goals per game, 26th out of 30 NHL teams

Stat #2 13.1% power play, 29th out of 30 NHL teams

Stat #3 Pekka Rinne, 11 starts, 7 wins, 3 shutouts, .919 save %

Stat #4 Dan Ellis 2007-08, 1st in NHL in save percentage(.924%)

Stat #5 Only 2 players in top 100 of NHL for points, and 1 is a defenseman(Dumont #47,

Weber #65)



What would I do if I was GM for a day? With all due respect to David Poile, one of the top in the business who works magic every year on a restricted budget , I would trade Dan Ellis. Ellis has value to one of the top teams who think they are another solid goalie(or potential #1) from a cup contender. The NHL leader in save percentage last year, he is rebounding nicely from a slow start. In his last 4 games, Ellis has a 1.23 goals against average and .957 save percentage with 1 shutout. And finally, for a large market team or whomever, he is not a big hit on the salary cap.



Why is Ellis expendable? Pecca Rinne. He is the future, but the future is now. He has size, great fundamentals and he is a competitor. He is in net to keep everything out and has an attitude about it. He is showing characteristics of an elite goalie. Other franchise scouts and front office people are singing his praises behind the scenes, just ask Pete Weber who said so on the local morning talk shows this past week. Add 3 shutouts in December and you see he is ready to go now as the #1 goalie. Had it not been for a untimely snowstorm last year he would be the #1 now in all probability.



Scoring is obviously the weak point for this team struggling to stay in the top 8 for a playoff spot.
Ellis can be dealt for some offense. Pitch in Greg Devries or a young defensive prospect(the Preds are loaded with some of the best minor league talent at defense) and 2 solid offensive players can come to the Preds in return. Keep Tootoo on the 4th line to draw penalties where he is most effective. If those 2 things happen, the Preds go from just outside the playoffs to a solid team that could host a first round playoff series(only 6 points from 4th place at this time).



To get a little you have to give a little, and with Dan Ellis the Preds have more than a little to give.