The St. Louis Blues and goaltender Brian Elliott have agree to terms on a new three year contract that will kick in this up coming season. He will average 2.5M per year over the term of the deal.
Elliott, 29, will return for his fifth season with the Blues, and will look to add onto his impressive numbers from the previous four seasons. Elliott holds a 55-24-7-16 record with the Blues, including 16 shutouts.
Elliott is a goaltender who doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves for what he has accomplished with the Blues. Many people seem to focus on his prior records with the Ottawa Senators and the Colorado Avalanche.
When Elliott joined the Blues back in 2011-12, he was 26 years old, and that is when his career turned around for the better. He had a career year with the Blues in his first season, including nine shutouts for the Blues. He had his first winning record that year for the first time in three seasons.
Most goaltenders do not hit their prime until they turn 26 or 27, and this has seemed to be the case for Elliott. Yet no one seems to give him credit for his improvements, they only say his numbers are better due to playing in Ken Hitchcock's system. It's no lie that the Blues play in a more defensive system, but then why didn't Jaroslav Halak or Ryan Miller shine in Hitchcock's system?
The Blues and Elliott have seemed to found a common ground with one another. Elliott has been nothing but a high class professional and has been a fantastic teammate. When he isn't playing at his best, he gives full support to the goalie in the net. He's been one of better goaltenders statistically to play for the Blues. He ranks fourth all time in shutouts for the Blues with 12, and he sits first in Blues history with a 1.82 goals against average.
Elliott is the perfect 1B starter. When he comes into games, he gives his all, and wins more than he loses. He fits well in the Blues system, and will be able to continue playing in the system that he's been so successful in.
Meanwhile, he is the perfect goaltender for the Blues to split games with their up and coming goaltending prospect, Jake Allen.
Allen, 23, is coming off a career year in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves. He was named goaltender of the year, and carried an impressive 36-16-3 record with seven shutouts. He will be promoted from the AHL to the NHL full-time this upcoming season.
With a duo of Elliott and Allen in net for the Blues, both goaltenders will have to play at their best to get starts. Elliott has proven that when he is splitting games, he plays at his best. Many forget that he and Halak won the Jennings Trophy for allowing the least amount of goals in the NHL just a few years ago.
There isn't going to be a set starter this season. Whoever is hot will play, and that could be either Elliott or Allen. This will allow Allen to transition into the NHL without throwing him into the fire like the Blues had to do with him two years ago where he basically saved the Blues season. He holds a 9-4-1 record in the NHL, with a 2.46 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
The Blues will also save a good amount of cash on this deal as well. With a 2.5M average on Elliott's deal, and while Allen is only making 800K this season, the Blues are spending 3.3M on goaltender, which will allow them to allocate their money towards their offensive hole at the center position.