Dan Ellis
With the NHL in the midst of a lockout during the 2012-13 season, journeyman Dan Ellis found himself playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. His play in the minors earned him a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
This particular season was an oddity for the Hurricanes, with Cam Ward, Dan Ellis, and Justin Peters each starting 16 games during the lockout-shortened schedule.
Ellis’ play put him in the middle of the 3 goalies, none of whom had strong seasons. Here’s Ellis’ line:
2012-13: 19GP; 6W; 8L; 3.13 GAA; .906 SV%; 1 SO
Ellis returned to the Dallas Stars as a free agent after one season with the Hurricanes, followed by stops in Florida and Washington.
After the conclusion of his playing career, Ellis served as an assistant coach with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.
Best Performance: Dan Ellis had a few solid games for the Hurricanes. Most notably was his lone shutout, a 33 save performance against the Ottawa Senators on February 1st, 2013.
Overall Impression: The Carolina Hurricanes were in the midst of an identity crisis coming out of the lockout and Dan Ellis didn’t fit in their plans moving forward. Inconsistency played a part as he had 8 games in which he finished with a sub-.900% save percentage.
Fun Fact: In 2011, Ellis was traded from Tampa Bay to Anaheim for future Hurricane Curtis McElhinney. Less fun? Ellis’ Twitter rant that drew heavy criticism in 2010.