After a busy Fourth of July the Dallas Stars had a little more business to wrap-up Friday in the form of a backup goaltender and found their man in former Carolina Hurricane Dan Ellis.
Jason LaBarbera went earlier to the Edmonton Oilers and the Coyotes signed Thomas Greiss after that, but we’d been hearing Ellis’ name for hours and it’s believed that was their target from early-on today.
The team policy is now to not reveal terms of signed contracts, but it’s believed that the deal could possibly be $800,000 in the first year and $1,000,000 in the second. Confirmation pending on that so don’t hold us to it.
Ellis is 33 years-old and could compete with Cristopher Nilstorp in camp for the backup position – But seems likely to get the job after a stretch in February cost the Stars last season as Bachman and Nilstorp both under-performed. Ellis went 6-8-2 last year in Carolina after playing for the Checkers of the AHL during the lockout.
Welcome to Dallas, Dan Ellis.
*Sounds like the Stars may be done for the rest of the day…
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FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed free agent goaltender Dan Ellis to a two-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ellis, 33, posted a 6-8-2 record with Carolina in 19 games played, recording a .906 save percentage, a 3.13 goals against average and one shutout. He also appeared in 18 games with Charlotte of the American Hockey League, where he had an 8-7-2 record with a 2.46 goals against average, a .922 save percentage and two shutouts.
The six-year NHL veteran has appeared in 184 career regular season games for Dallas, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Anaheim and Carolina. He has a career record of 78-65-17 with 13 shutouts, a .908 save percentage and a 2.73 goals against average.
“Dan is a proven goaltender in this League and he will be a great complement to Kari Lehtonen,” stated Nill. “He’s a true professional that will compete hard each and every day.”
The six-foot-one, 191-pound native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was originally selected by Dallas in the second round (60th overall) of the 2000 NHL Draft.