dudacek Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 (edited) As we finish off our look at the Sabre free agents, this one's for Trueblue #37 Matt Ellis F (33-year-old UFA) Rochester 38/7/6/13/-6/2 Buffalo 39/1/1/2/-12/4 Believe it or not, Matt Ellis once scored 38 goals and 89 points in just 66 games. But that was 13 years ago in his last year of major junior hockey. Since then his resume is a testament to the perseverance of role players. Ellis waited until his fifth year of pro hockey before he played his first NHL game. He has played just one full NHL season in his career, compiling 49 points over parts of nine years. But he keeps getting call-ups — despite lead feet and stone hands — because he keeps delivering exactly what his coaches ask from him. Last year was no different. Pencilled in at the start of the year as a veteran mentor for Rochester, Ellis once again answered the bell when others failed and spent most of the latter half of the season toiling on the Sabres’ fourth line. Without a contract at 33, Ellis definitely has to see the writing on the wall, but he continues to work out with the Sabres hoping for another deal. It’s not clear if he is in the team’s plans, or how, but his track record indicates he will be ready if he’s called. Links to the rest of the series: Anders Lindback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/ Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/ Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabres...han-and-benoit/ Mark Pysyk: http://forums.sabres...w-3-mark-pysyk/ Tim Schaller: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23423-roster-review-59-tim-schaller/ Edited June 8, 2015 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Flagg Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I forgot which game it was but that one goal he scored this year was filthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 NO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I'm sure he'll be appreciated in Rochester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I'm sure he'll be appreciated in Rochester. That's what we say every year and he still shows up....guessing with new staff and better talent he'll stay down this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 You suck Dudacek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Matt Ellis is a beast on the boards, and a great guy. I just never want to see him in blue and gold again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 You suck Dudacek. He should be banned for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woods-racer Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 You suck Dudacek. He should be banned for this! Which one ? Who? What the heck did I miss again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogre Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Matt seems like a hell of a guy. I hope he has his after hockey plan ready. Seems like I've been screaming "GD Matt F'n Ellis" at my TV for too many years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Which one ? Who? What the heck did I miss again? LOL the nerve to bother posting a Matt Ellis link. Matt Ellis :wallbash: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmus_ Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Okay on the AHL roster, I don't want to see this guy in the NHL again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huckleberry Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 He'll score the cup winning goal in the stanley cup final :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I hate the idea of seeing Matt Ellis in a Sabres uniform, but as OP mentioned he always does what is expected of him. You know what you're getting. I voted "13th forward/call up." You never know when the injury bug can hit, and if a Deslauriers or Kaleta goes down, Ellis can simulate that role better than Larsson or Grigorenko. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Okay on the AHL roster, I don't want to see this guy in the NHL again. :beer: He'll score the cup winning goal in the stanley cup final :D Only in a video game and it will be abut goal. Still a GWG but in a video game. I hate the idea of seeing Matt Ellis in a Sabres uniform, but as OP mentioned he always does what is expected of him. You know what you're getting. I voted "13th forward/call up." You never know when the injury bug can hit, and if a Deslauriers or Kaleta goes down, Ellis can simulate that role better than Larsson or Grigorenko. I don't care that he's a good guy and does what he's told and everybody likes him personally. I have bitched about having to pay for an NHL ticket every time I see him. Enough. His presence and all he brings to an NHL team has shown back to back last place finishes. Not his fault of course but I think he a cancer in my hockey brain. Cut it out. Now. I can find a guy in a beer league that would probably give me more on the ice. Let him live out his dreams in the AHL. He can be the well liked guy down there and play out his days and make a pretty decent buck doing it. I will need help if this man plays another game other than a pre season game for the Sabres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannepanne Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I wouldn't even want him with the amerks just because of the risk of him getting called up. There's enough role players as it is. The Sabres and the amerks WILL BE FINE without him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I hate the idea of seeing Matt Ellis in a Sabres uniform, but as OP mentioned he always does what is expected of him. You know what you're getting. I voted "13th forward/call up." You never know when the injury bug can hit, and if a Deslauriers or Kaleta goes down, Ellis can simulate that role better than Larsson or Grigorenko. I respect the hell out of Matt Ellis, but the need for his talent really shows the level of play we have grown accustomed to. Hopefully he is strictly a depth, emergency type of player going forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Malooga Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I voted for #3, because it's true...but I am also alright with #2, as long as he stays there as the Captain. (I'd like to see McCabe as an assistant this year, then maybe captain next year if he's still there. Compher too next year.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted July 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 If anyone missed it, WGR did a huge tribute to Matty on the eve of the announcement he has signed an AHL contract with Rochester: http://www.wgr550.com/Matt-Ellis-The-rebuild-role-player-who-has-left-a-/21694496 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 Duds, you're the man for updating all of these. One of the reasons I stopped by today was to look for updates on the particular lot you updated today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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