The Nashville Predators have signed defenceman Ryan Ellis to an eight-year contract extension worth $50 million, or $6.25 million per season. This contract carries him through the 2026-27 season. The extension will kick in after this upcoming season.
The contract does not include a no-movement or no-trade clause. Ellis is set to receive a $7M signing bonus on July 1, 2019.
Great news for NSH, not so great news for any of the other 30 teams that were planning on UFA shopping in 2019: Defenceman Ryan Ellis has agreed to an eight-year extension with the Preds. AAV of $6.25M. Extension kicks in for the 19-20 season.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) August 14, 2018
Ryan Ellis Signs Long-Term With the Predators
Ellis has only played for the Nashville Predators during his seven-year NHL career and has put up 55 goals and 118 assists for 173 career points in 396 career games. The Nashville Predators originally drafted Ellis in the first round, 11th overall of the 2009 NHL draft.
Last season he scored nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in 44 games. He also added six minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 54.9 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 4.0.
Ellis also provided five assists in 13 playoff games for Nashville, which was eliminated in the Western Conference semifinal by the rival Winnipeg Jets.
The Hamilton, Ontario native carved out a phenomenal junior career with the Windsor Spitfires. Ellis registered 73 goals and 241 assists in 226 games.
What This Means for the Future
The Predators have locked up all four pillars of the best defence in the league. Ellis picked as 20th-rated blueliner according to NHL.com. Teammates P.K. Subban (fifth) and Roman Josi (seventh) also made the list. Mattias Ekholm rounds out the highly regarded defensive group.
The pairing of Ellis and Josi is one of the better duos in the league. General manager David Poile has locked up all four players at a reasonable price.
Nashville is listed among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup and re-signing Ellis is a big step to keeping the team together for the next few seasons. Ellis and the rest of the defence are looking to get back to the Stanley Cup final like they did in 2016-17.
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