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 has only suited up for the Flyers in four games for the Flyers this season, and he’s out for the remainder of the season as expected:
“He’s officially out for the season. Absolutely. We’re still working through some different options and the plan is still for him to be ready to play at the start of next season. Once things get finalized, we’ll be able to officially announce what we do.” – Chuck Fletcher
This Ellis situation is a weird one. From day to day, now week to week, to missing the entire season, all without knowing exactly what his injury is. All I know it’s a lower body injury, and fans are growing impatient, rightfully so. Little information is known, and there appears to a miscommunication of information.
Fletcher cannot guarantee that he will be ready for the start of training camp in the Fall, “That’s what his focus is and the focus of our medical team,” Fletcher says. “We’re just looking at different options here to get him healed up.”
It’s a shame, Ellis is a very good defender, and would help the Flyers immensely. However, he cannot help the team if he doesn’t play, and that’s just it there is no timeline for his return. The questions will remain, what type of injury is it? Why didn’t he have surgery sooner to ensure he would be ready for training camp? I mean these are valid, concerning questions. Is his injury career threatening? Who knows right, as he has a mysterious injury.
That’s just it, these are all valid questions above. The Flyers cannot move one of Ivan Provorov or Travis Sanheim in the off-season with uncertainty surrounding Ellis. That wouldn’t be wise for this organization, to which some moves haven’t made sense as of late, but maybe this is why the Flyers re-signed Rasmus Ristolainen.
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.
He (Ryan Ellis) has a lot of those same qualities as Niskanen as far as that steadying presence. No moment seems to be too big for him. He comes in, goes about his business and is super effective.” – James van Riemsdyk
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. Justin Braun has filled in admirably without the services of Ellis, but then again he’s not Ellis. The fan base has every right to be nervous about the next five years with the durability of Ellis.
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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, but 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). Ellis registered five goals, and 13 assists in 35 games played, as he missed 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury.
All in all, let’s hope Ellis recovers quickly, and is ready for the start of training camp. One thing is certain it’s too risky to even think about trading one of Ivan Provorov or Travis Sanheim this offseason, due to the uncertainty surrounding Ellis.
This is not a young defense. In fact, they are slightly older for this league in average especially if you back york out. Do not mix being terrible with age.
Nashville got this one on Philly pretty good! Suckers!
So to be clear, after being absolutely horrible defensively this year with Ellis out, we should ensure that we go into next season with the exact same top 4 D again in case Ellis cannot recover….that doesn’t sound like a recipe for success. The Risto re-signing was atrocious and we now have too much cap space tied up in a below average defensive group. I would move Provy in heartbeat for a high-end defensive prospect that’s ready for a shot at a 3rd pairing role and look to sign a cheaper, but serviceable LD to play behind Sanheim and York. May not be better, but it wouldn’t be any worse…and with another cap-cutting move or 2 we may be able to take a swing at an offensive replacement for G….