Just Who Is Nick Ellis?

The Edmonton Oilers dipped into the NCAA pool for a couple of forwards in Patrick Russell and Drake Caggiula this past spring, but those two players weren’t the only college graduates to come to Edmonton. The Oilers elected to sign Providence College netminder Nick Ellis to an entry-level deal back in the spring.

Ellis had to wait behind star Jon Gillies (yes, the Flames prospect) before getting his chance as the full-time starter this past season. Ellis excelled as the go-to guy, and as result he decided to test his luck in free agency. The Oilers came calling with a two-year entry level contract, and now Ellis will fight to make the AHL roster this fall.

There’s no doubt that Ellis is a little known prospect to Edmonton fans due to where he played his college hockey, so let’s take a look at him.

So……Just Who Is Nick Ellis?:

Ellis is a 6’1”, 180 pound netminder who played three seasons at Providence College. As mentioned, he served as the backup to star Jon Gillies for his first two seasons, only playing a combined 12 games for the Friars. This past season he tripled that total, appearing in 36 regular season games.

Interestingly enough, Ellis posted his best season in 2015-16, going 25-7-4 and posting a .936 SV% and 1.80 GAA. The Friars were more than okay with Ellis in net as they defended their NCAA championship.

SB Nation’s College hockey blog ranked Ellis as the 62nd best NHL prospect in college hockey last season, and ranked him as the fifth best NCAA free agent this past spring. The following is a brief report they wrote on him.

Ellis spent the past two seasons waiting in the wings behind superstar goalie Jon Gillies at Providence. But this year, as the team’s top goalie, he’s been able to shine. Ellis brings a good mix of size and athleticism and has been very effective in net all season.

What Can We Expect?:

I actually think Nick Ellis is a nice prospect for the organization and I think we will eventually see him get NHL minutes with the Oilers. That said, for 2016-17, I think we need to keep our expectations in check. Yes, NCAA free agents are closer to making it to the NHL than junior graduates, but goalies take some time to develop.

Ellis is also blocked by Laurent Brossoit, who will either be the starter in Bakersfield to begin the year or the backup in Edmonton. Eetu Laurikainen also returns for a second season and will push for time in the AHL. Jonas Gustavsson, at least for this season, is also in the picture and could see time in the AHL.

For the 2016-17 season, I think we should expect to see Ellis start in the ECHL with Norfolk. This will allow the rookie to get the starter’s load and adjust to pro hockey. Remember, Brossoit spent his rookie season in the ECHL and it only helped him.

Will He Be a Long Term Oiler?:

It’s way too early to say if Ellis will be a long term Oiler or not. I will say this about him, however; he played exceptionally well in the NCAA, which is not an easy task. I think Ellis will get a hefty amount of ECHL and AHL starts the next two years and will get ample opportunity to cement himself as a legit prospect.

If he has a strong ECHL season, I could see him splitting time with Laurikainen or a veteran in Bakersfield in 2017-18. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

So, to answer the question, I think he will get at least two seasons, likely more, to develop in the system. At this point I can’t say he will be a long term Oiler, but he will certainly be a member of this organization for a while.