Flyers’ Ryan Ellis clears the air on his injury “I want to play here. I want to be here. I’m very excited”

Photo Credit: Ricky Brown

A steady Right-Handed Defenseman in Ryan Ellis, who stands at 5’10 and weighs 180 pounds is a top pairing veteran Defenseman with Ivan Provorov, when healthy. That’s just it when healthy, as Ellis only suited up for the Flyers in four games for the Flyers this season, but finally there is a plan in place and he’s happy about it:

“We have a plan in place. It took a long time 1) to figure out what was going on and 2) how to embark on that plan. We have a plan,” Ellis said at exit interviews. “I’m very happy and comfortable. Me and the management, everyone’s on the same page and the aim is to be healthy for training camp.”

Finally Ellis spoke on his injury, yes he finally did. It was good to hear it from him, and it was also good to hear he wants to be a Flyer as there were rumors he didn’t want to be. He put that to rest today, and divulged a bit into his injury.

“It’s multi-layered, but surgery at the moment is not part of the equation. It’s, I guess, the complex of the whole pelvic region, more or less. It’s hard to pinpoint everything. I’m really excited I found out what’s going on. We have a plan and I’m excited for the first time in a while to embark on that plan.” – Ryan Ellis

This Ellis situation was a weird one. From day to day, now week to week, to missing the entire season, all without knowing exactly what his injury was. Finally the City of Philadelphia, fans, media, and the organization have something to be happy about, with knowing Ellis’s injury, with a proper diagnosis finally, “I mean stats speak for themselves,” Ellis said. “Four games, five points. No, it’s obviously a very frustrating year. I think the hardest thing is the mental and emotional that it’s kind of put on me and my family, more so me. Kind of what I put them through has been tough, but as far as the team, I want to play here. I want to be here. I’m very excited. I came in very excited and I came in just as excited. The big thing is I need to play and I want to play. My whole life has been built around playing hockey and that got taken away from me, it’s been draining. With the plan we have and the steps we’re going to take in order to get back ready for next year, I haven’t been this excited in months because I finally have an approach and a path clear to go.”

It’s great to hear how happy Ellis is. It’s also great to hear he’s excited, not only about his diagnosis, but getting back on the ice next season. A healthy Ellis could speed up the rebuild or aggressive retool, maybe not make this team a Stanley Cup contender, but a fringe playoff berth would be possible on the surface. I know that’s not good enough, but it beats what’s been transpiring the past few seasons.

Ellis will stick up for his teammates, and also possesses good offensive instincts and great mobility. He can move the puck quickly out of danger, and owns a powerful point shot.

This 30-year-old Defenseman in Ellis is great with gap control. He suffocates his opponents, and has no problem transitioning from the defensive zone. Gone are the days the Flyers have trouble with getting out of their own end with him on the ice. Ellis is a great compliment to the young Ivan Provorov, as he can provide tutelage and mentor Provorov. Fletcher paid Nolan Patrick and Philippe Myers for the services of Ellis. Ellis has five years remaining after this one, with a cap hit of $6.25 million. Durability is worrisome from a fan base that knows they need a to pairing defender to pair with Ivan Provorov, but it’s good to hear him excited again:

“I haven’t been this excited in months because I finally have an approach and a path clear to go,” Ellis said. “It’s honestly been the hardest year of my life. Can’t say I’ve been through anything harder. Coming to a new team, this year is probably the most excited I’ve been for hockey. New team, new city, new fans, new building, you name it. Everything was new and exciting. Our team had unbelievable upside to it all. I think with the amount of injuries and whatnot obviously didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.”

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He was hurt last year, and nagging injuries have been a detriment to how good of a defenseman he really is. However, when healthy he’s a handful or a pest to deal with. He’s excellent with clearing the crease, and that’s an area that the Flyers need help in. Ellis provides experience for a young backend that the Flyers currently have (Average age 27.5 last season). He registered five goals, and 13 assists in 35 games played, as he missed 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury last season with the Nashville Predators.

All in all, let’s hope Ellis recovers quickly, and is ready for the start of training camp. One thing is certain this Flyers team is much better with him in the lineup.

“The different things that are going on, I guess,” Ellis said. “Nothing’s broken enough to do surgery on. Again, I don’t know how to say it otherwise. I think that’s part of the whole reason it took forever. Not that it’s rare, but it hasn’t really been a problem before in a lot of people. I think that’s part of the reason it took so long to figure out what was going on and then to make a plan on how to fix it. No, I haven’t spoken to anyone with the same sort of thing. I’ve spoken to a lot of people about a lot of different things with various injuries they’ve had, but nobody’s said, “oh yeah that happened to me too.” That’s again part of the reason it’s taken so long.