Colten Ellis Love Fest

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, CTJoe said:

we have to let the Ellis evaluation play out for the rest of the season, but, what I would do right now is:

1. Trade UPL

2. Lyon and Ellis split starts, going with the hot hand.

3. Lyon is signed through next year (wish his contract was a 1 year deal, not a 2)

4. Long term, ideally you have Ellis and Levi as your 1a/1b goalies.  Funny thing is Ellis is playing exactly how we hoped Levi would at this point.

I don't. I am very very very glad that Lyon is signed for 2 years because it means we don't have to keep UPL because Lyon will be gone soon or count on Levi to be the 1b next year. Also we have a very small sample for Ellis, what if he regresses? 

[Taro T]

9 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Interesting:  He's played almost exactly the same amount of time as UPL.  Compare their stats:

The interesting thing there, IMHO, is how much more rubber Ellis has seen relative to UPL with significantly better results (small sample size).

Also, pretty sure UPL hasn't had one shot in by his defenseman.  Ellis can't say the same.  😉 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But ask yourself why is there this deadline? If you are trying to move UPL haste only makes waste. Take the time to get the most value for him. If you need a roster spot you can waive Geertsen first.

Yeah, even with the apparent return of a few guys on the horizon, they have the ability to waive Geertsen 1st.  Personally, believe they could (they won't, but they could) risk waiving Bryson when all D are healthy as they have some guys in Ra-cha-cha that could get called up and fill his role.  Pretty sure they also could waive Dunne for a little bit longer without him having to go through waivers again, though they're getting close to that limit if they haven't already passed it.   Personally don't want to see either Swede nor Kozak sent down when they get healthy but expect either Östlund or Kozak to be towards the front of the list of moves that do get made.

There are moves they can make before simply waiving UPL.  But if it weren't Adams making the move, would be more insistant on them making a move sooner than later.  But don't really have much faith in Kevyn getting that right; but he does have Kekalainen helping him now (and Staal too 😉 ) so maybe he won't F it up.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

Right but you need 7 Dmen on the roster.  When Kesselring returns, that will prompt Metsa's move back to Rochester.

If Dunne is waiver exempt then yeah, demote him.  He's fine but nothing more than a 4th liner.  He's a little slow but seems to think the game well and is hard to move off the puck along the boards.

Dunne is not waiver exempt. But he's much more likely to clear waivers than Kozak -- you're 50/50 at best if you waive Kozak at this point.

Look to move Luukkonen or waive him (no one will pick him up, no worries there. He could decide to not report, I suppose [but incredibly doubtful because $$$$], and then you save your money that way.)

Among the forwards: in order: waive Geertsen (auto-clears), Rosén (exempt), Östlund (exempt), then Dunne as the final piece.

[Taro T]

12 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't. I am very very very glad that Lyon is signed for 2 years because it means we don't have to keep UPL because Lyon will be gone soon or count on Levi to be the 1b next year. Also we have a very small sample for Ellis, what if he regresses? 

Yeah, signing Lyon for 2 years gives them a ton of flexibility for figuring out how to handle this season and even some flexibility for next year too.  Pretty sure Levi isn't waiver exempt next year, so they have a decision to make within Lyon, Ellis, and Levi; but by having Lyon signed for the extra year, they actually get to make that decision rather than having it made for them.

But, hang onto UPL for now, while working the phones to find him a home elsewhere.  (Again, not convinced Adams is up to the challenge, but maybe with Jarmo's help he will be.)  And if you get to a point that you have to send him to Ra-cha-cha, or more likely loan him to another team's farm club so both Levi and he can continue to get ice time, see if he clears or not.  If he doesn't, well, at least you've just effectively knocked Skinner's cap hit next year down to what it'll be his final 2 years.  And that is manageable.

[kas23]

17 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't. I am very very very glad that Lyon is signed for 2 years because it means we don't have to keep UPL because Lyon will be gone soon or count on Levi to be the 1b next year. Also we have a very small sample for Ellis, what if he regresses? 

We can be cautiously optimistic though. The small sample size, regression, NHL now has a “book” on him, etc, can be said for every single goalie that has begun playing in the NHL. Sure, all these can happen, but none of them are specific to Ellis. 

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Slightly off topic and who knows the veracity of this site. 🤷‍♂️

 

 

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

Dunne is not waiver exempt. But he's much more likely to clear waivers than Kozak -- you're 50/50 at best if you waive Kozak at this point.

Kozak is a Sabre now.

[DarthEbriate]

6 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Kozak is a Sabre now.

I agree. But we do have a 3rd goalie, a 7th defenseman, and a Geertsen on the roster. If everyone's healthy and you need ALL 3 of them...  Danforth is my next to go as he's the grownup version of Kozak. But you never know.

[That Aud Smell]

fwiw - Ellis is not on the ice this morning.

[French Collection]

13 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

And he’s only the second best Ellis in the organization 😝😁

Get rid of the other one so there is no controversy. Some side benefits to this move as well.

[French Collection]

11 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Intelligent too.  Makes smart hockey plays, especially when handling the puck.  UPL typically rims it around the boards to the opposing team while Ellis actually passes it to a teammate more often than not.

The extra help on breakouts matters.

The team seems way more confident with him, not gripping their sticks tight waiting for a UPL softie.

[Taro T]

10 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

fwiw - Ellis is not on the ice this morning.

With 3 goalies and him having played 2 games in the past 3 days, could see them giving him a day off which gives him some much needed rest and also gives both of the other guys a full practice rather than swapping in for each other.

Hoping it's as simple as that for why he wasn't on the ice this morning.

[French Collection]

11 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

At 4.75, I don't see it, unless we eat approx. half.

Did you see Skinner last night? That’s the best the Oilers have while making runs to the Cup finals. They could be talked into UPL being a young, improving goalie who needs a change of scenery.

[LGR4GM]

Ellis is not at practice today. Speculate away. 

(it is most likely a rest day after last night since they have 3 goalies around)

[That Aud Smell]

11 minutes ago, Taro T said:

With 3 goalies and him having played 2 games in the past 3 days, could see them giving him a day off which gives him some much needed rest and also gives both of the other guys a full practice rather than swapping in for each other.

Hoping it's as simple as that for why he wasn't on the ice this morning.

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Ellis is not at practice today. Speculate away. 

(it is most likely a rest day after last night since they have 3 goalies around)

That seems to be the consensus of the beat reporters: A rest day.

(There were 2 skaters also not present. Samuelsson being one?)

[Doohickie]

45 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

fwiw - Ellis is not on the ice this morning.

[Flashsabre]

33 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Ellis is not at practice today. Speculate away. 

(it is most likely a rest day after last night since they have 3 goalies around)

Adams traded him for a 6th.😝

[Doohickie]

St. Louis Blues have no choice but make a trade for a new goalie to save their season

Quote

As the season goes along, the decision to waive Colten Ellis continues to loom and might be one of the decisions that cost them success this season. Ellis was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres and has looked good at times to the point that he is putting together a case to be the starter.

The Blues would love to have him back, but Buffalo would be unwilling to part with him. However, they do have other options in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, or even Alexandar Georgiev, who is currently down in the AHL.

 

Edited 12 minutes ago by Doohickie