Dan Spiegel: Keaton Ellerby: Does Tallon Keep Him Or Let Him Go?

Reminds me of Ryan O'Byrne up in Montreal before he was traded. I wouldn't mind Sherman making a deal for Keaton and giving him a shot in Denver.

Omark for Ellerby

Doesn't hurt to have many d-men, but if there is a market for him that gives the Panthers a good return then sure you ship him out. He would have been a good asset to keep if the Coyotes moved out of Phoenix since he is a very close cousin of Shane Doan.

For the love of god, deal him to Philly.

Dan,
in this instance I do not believe your blog gives an even handed review of Ellerby. It seems you point out many negatives for sure (more on this in a moment). But lets be fair here: to be sure, other than maybe goalie, defense is the most difficult position for young players to adjust to in the NHL, just look at the progression and time it took Gudbranson to go from awful to awesome (80 games), and that was getting regular time. Ellerby made mistakes- we must all recall that pass to Winnipeg in the blow-out game, but he has also done a lot right. But most importantly, he has never yet had the opportunity to do what Guddy did and work through the learning curve in his very, very limited time with this team (rather than the AHL roster Panthers he played 54 games with in 2010-11).

You can see the kid is fast and he is big. He layed some big hits in his games. I think he has a good set of hands on him and actually moves the puck well. Am I the only one seeing this?
The scouting report on the Panthers at hockeysfuture.com notes that the Panthers are stacked, but lack a true offensive "quarterback" on defense in the farm system, but goes on to note that its not a problem because Ellerby and Kuli are in the NHL and fill those roles.

Finally, as said, you can never have too many d-men. Jovo and Weaver have limited careers left and I do not believe we are going to get Garrison back. Petrovic and Robak are coming along nicely but could use more seasoning, and Strachan has been good, but thats it for a while as there is little in the pipeline ready to go for some time after that. With injuries, one never really knows.

I think Ellerby is better than a lot of folks seem to think. I don't know how folks can jump to the negative conclusion on such a limited body of work. Frankly, it was a cheap shot to say he was -19 over his NHL career game span but not point out that he was only -3 in 40 games this season.....and -15 in 2010-11 in 54 games on that awful team (but with 22 points).

Dan,
on re-reading your blog, maybe I was a little unfair in my last reply, the percieved slights I had viewed were not as I first thought. My apologies.

Before Dale decides what do do with Keaton Ellerby he needs to determine what he plans to do with Jason Garrison. If Garrison goes Ellerby is more likely to stay.

As a Blackhawks fan I'd take Ellerby for Hjalmarsson.

Dan,
on re-reading your blog, maybe I was a little unfair in my last reply, the percieved slights I had viewed were not as I first thought. My apologies.
- clarkey

Thanks. I was wondering about your comment because I felt I was very fair about Ellerby. Personally, I like him a lot and would like him to stay. But the numbers game may keep him from getting the ice time he needs to fully develop. If Tallon considers Ellerby to be the sixth defenseman to get under contract, then great. I'd be surprised if that was the case, however.

Before Dale decides what do do with Keaton Ellerby he needs to determine what he plans to do with Jason Garrison. If Garrison goes Ellerby is more likely to stay.

As a Blackhawks fan I'd take Ellerby for Hjalmarsson.
- DarthKane

Agreed. Garrison is the next player I will discuss here in a few days.

Agreed. Garrison is the next player I will discuss here in a few days.
- spiegs13

As much as Suter seems to be the prime UFA defenseman I think Garrison would be the smarter money signing. Garrison is a late bloomer and has a killer slap shot that any team can use in their top 4. He's defensively sound so he game is well rounded.

Before Dale decides what do do with Keaton Ellerby he needs to determine what he plans to do with Jason Garrison. If Garrison goes Ellerby is more likely to stay.

As a Blackhawks fan I'd take Ellerby for Hjalmarsson.
- DarthKane

Ugh, what?

Ellerby isn't on the same planet as Hjalmarsson right now. We haven't even seen Hjalmarssons best hockey yet.

It typically takes 300 games for an NHL dman to get really, really comfortable and begin to show their true potential. Hjalmarsson is right on that cusp now.

Ellerby obviously has a ways to go, but if he's not going to get the time in Florida, he needs to be move while he still holds value. He is a very good player.

Ugh, what?

Ellerby isn't on the same planet as Hjalmarsson right now. We haven't even seen Hjalmarssons best hockey yet.

It typically takes 300 games for an NHL dman to get really, really comfortable and begin to show their true potential. Hjalmarsson is right on that cusp now.

Ellerby obviously has a ways to go, but if he's not going to get the time in Florida, he needs to be move while he still holds value. He is a very good player.
- mochoson

Trading Hjalmarsson frees up cap space for another d-man signing (i.e. Garrison or Suter). Besides that, Hjlamrasson is a UFA in 2013 and I highly doubt the Hawks will re-sign him.

Trading Hjalmarsson frees up cap space for another d-man signing (i.e. Garrison or Suter). Besides that, Hjlamrasson is a UFA in 2013 and I highly doubt the Hawks will re-sign him.
- DarthKane

The Hawks are in an interesting spot in reference to the cap. However, Hjalmarsson is still worth way more then Ellerby.

That also opens up a huge hole in your line-up. Garrison is not superior to Hjalmarsson. Suter is obviously. However, signing Suter seems redundant when you already have Keith and Seabrook. So either Chicago needs to asess how much they value the two stud dmen they have, or they need to sign a guy like Garrison or Coliacavo to round out the D, and subtract salary from somewhere else.

Thanks. I was wondering about your comment because I felt I was very fair about Ellerby. Personally, I like him a lot and would like him to stay. But the numbers game may keep him from getting the ice time he needs to fully develop. If Tallon considers Ellerby to be the sixth defenseman to get under contract, then great. I'd be surprised if that was the case, however.
- spiegs13

Yes indeed, was a rough one at the office so I was loaded for bear if you will.

I absolutely agree that if Garrison re-signs than Tallon should shop Ellerby for the best deal he can get. This really runs us into several contractual issues doesn't it. We have Jovo signed for what I believe is another 4 years (don't hold me to that) and there is no way he is gonna be productive for another two years. But that more or less lands us in Robak/Petrovic territory as they should be more than ready at that point, but cannot wait 4. Campbell has plenty of years left but looks to be very productive over that term. Hopefully we sign Kuli to a 3 or 4 year deal this summer. Weaver has what I believe is 2-years on the new contract. Gudbranson, face of the franchise for the next 15 years if we are lucky. So if we figure Robak/Petrovic will be the Weaver replacement/Jovo replacement, what we are really talking about here is what happens to Garrison. Strachan is signed to a one way deal next season so he will be with the Panthers, so with out Garry it looks like this:

Campbell/Gudbranson
Kulikov/Weaver
Jovo/Strachan-Ellerby(-Petrovic-Robak?)

It seems obvious under the circumstances that if Garry re-signs we have to move Ellerby. If Garry does not re-sign with the Cats, I think we keep him and in two years (if one can realistically plan that far out) hope that the D looks like this:

Campbell/Gudbranson
Kulikov/Ellerby
Jovo/Petrovic-Robak.

Anyway you cut it, we are looking deep for the foreseeable future at defense!

Doesn't hurt to have many d-men, but if there is a market for him that gives the Panthers a good return then sure you ship him out. He would have been a good asset to keep if the Coyotes moved out of Phoenix since he is a very close cousin of Shane Doan.
- HTRmikster

Gomez for Ellerby, he could play with his other cousin Carey Price. I'm sure the Habs could add a 2nd round pick as well.

Trading Hjalmarsson frees up cap space for another d-man signing (i.e. Garrison or Suter). Besides that, Hjlamrasson is a UFA in 2013 and I highly doubt the Hawks will re-sign him.
- DarthKane

You can get much more for him. If all it took was Ellerby, I would hope NJ put forth a better offer.

The Hawks are in an interesting spot in reference to the cap. However, Hjalmarsson is still worth way more then Ellerby.

That also opens up a huge hole in your line-up. Garrison is not superior to Hjalmarsson. Suter is obviously. However, signing Suter seems redundant when you already have Keith and Seabrook. So either Chicago needs to asess how much they value the two stud dmen they have, or they need to sign a guy like Garrison or Coliacavo to round out the D, and subtract salary from somewhere else.
- mochoson

I'm not that high on Hjalmarsson. He's a decent 3rd pairing defenseman but nothing more, at least not yet. If somebody has to go to clear up cap space it will be Hammer (IMO).

Don't forget that Hjalmarsson and Soupy hand great chemistry in Chicago, Hammer hasn't been the same without him. The deal would not be Ellerby for Hjlmarsson straight up, but they'd be the major parts.

You can get much more for him. If all it took was Ellerby, I would hope NJ put forth a better offer.
- rmdevil313

What does NJ have that Chicago would want? I'm not too familiar with your roster.

k like does the panthers even have fans on this site? lol jks... anyways going on with my conclusion of the panthers...



panthers=chicago



The panthers should go after bolland, ladd, and bfuy any way possible since they already have:

versteeg
campbell
kopecky
madden

Gomez for Ellerby, he could play with his other cousin Carey Price. I'm sure the Habs could add a 2nd round pick as well.
- jugkope

If Gomez only had a year left? Deal.

Petrovic will take his spot next year. He deserves the call up and the bust Ellerby deserves to get waived.

Petrovic will take his spot next year. He deserves the call up and the bust Ellerby deserves to get waived.
- Gudbranson2012

What?

Petrovic will take his spot next year. He deserves the call up and the bust Ellerby deserves to get waived.
- Gudbranson2012

you do know it takes time for dmen to develop?

what happens if petrovic comes in and struggles?

Petrovic will take his spot next year. He deserves the call up and the bust Ellerby deserves to get waived.
- Gudbranson2012

It's funny we didn't hear your negativity very much during the playoffs. You turned a corner? Whether you want to admit it or not, Ellerby does have value around the league and it would be foolish to simply waive him. If he doesn't sign an extension I'm sure another team will send an offer sheet his way, especially with how inexpensive he would be. Tallon is all about acquiring picks so any compensation for losing him as an RFA is better than nothing.