Brian Elliott is 4th in the league in GAA and 5th in SV%

Craig Anderson is 42nd in GAA and 41st in SV%.

I'm starting to believe in the myth that Ottawa is a goalie graveyard. Yikes.

Hasek played just fine for us.

Elliott was a goalie put in 2 terrible situations last season. He's always been talented.

Hasek played just fine for us.

Until he got injured right before the play-offs.

Until he got injured right before the play-offs.

You can blame the Olympics

1) watching him has reminded of Auld for a long time now. I don't see this talent.
2) he is competing for his NHL career right now after last season. Gerber put up a .940+ SV% to start 07-08 to save his career before he completely fell apart.
3) he's only started 5 games.

1) watching him has reminded of Auld for a long time now. I don't see this talent.
2) he is competing for his NHL career right now after last season. Gerber put up a .940+ SV% to start 07-08 to save his career before he completely fell apart.
3) he's only started 5 games.

At least someone here is making sense.

1) watching him has reminded of Auld for a long time now. I don't see this talent.
2) he is competing for his NHL career right now after last season. Gerber put up a .940+ SV% to start 07-08 to save his career before he completely fell apart.
3) he's only started 5 games.

Agreed, no one should be surprised that Elliott can string together 5 amazing games. Hell, he backed us to an 11 game win streak with a very mediocre team in front of him.

Let's wait until the end of the season before we make any conclusions about Elliott.

I'm happy for him, he really needed this just to keep getting NHL backup jobs.

Unfortunately he's not consistent enough to be a legitimate NHL starter. The Auld comparison above is a good one. Ride him while he's hot, but he needs a legit starter to spell him, he can't do it every night. Unfortunately for him, we had Pascal Leclaire as our other option.

Until he got injured right before the play-offs.

Which was to be expected considering his past issues with his groin.

Elliott had some very good stretches for the Sens as well. The problem came with the pressure of being number one and his game went downhill.

Maybe being traded and bumped around has led to a mental breakthrough but after a decent streak and the chance to take control of the goalie job he couldn't do it despite having several chances to do so. Maybe Maclean as coach would have resulted in a better outcome, but as a Sens goalie, Brian's time was up. I hope he can pull it off now, maybe in St. Louis where he isn't recognized in the grocery store this will be possible.

Yea, its not secret that Elliott can put some amazing stretches together. The real question is if he can keep it together. History suggests no.

Yea, its not secret that Elliott can put some amazing stretches together. The real question is if he can keep it together. History suggests no.

What he said.

I defended this guy endlessly last year. He needed a change of scenery and a fresh start.

How many games has he started? 4-5?

He's gonna be a top end backup in the league, maybe a below average starter for a few years. I sincerely doubt he gets above that level for more than several-game stretches.

Don't forget that Spetsa, 9MM, and EK are on pace for 82+ pt seasons.

Every goalie goes on some good runs.

Just ask Gerber...

Don't forget that Spetsa, 9MM, and EK are on pace for 82+ pt seasons.

Exactly. By the same logic, Michalek is going to score 50, Karlsson will finish point per game, the Leafs will have a 120pt season, and Gonchar's going to be the first defenseman to hit 60pts with 0G.

Too small a sample size to draw any conclusion from yet. When he's played 20 games we can start speculating (although it will still be too few).

Elliott is the ultimate troll. Makes fans think they have an amazing starter coming out of nowhere for 5-10 games, then crumbles into a a goalie who wouldn't make it in the AHL.

So yeah, let's see how he does over a whole season.

Congrats to him, always knew he had it in him to be a good #1 goalie.

Elliott was mishandled here. He wasn't ready to be a #1 but was thrown into that position anyways. Not to mention the crap team playing in front of him.

St.Louis is a perfect place for him. He's more then capable of stepping in and playing 5 to 10 good games if Halak is injured or struggling, otherwise he makes a great back up.

Little reminder for the dudes who overreact after 12 games

Khabibulin is the leader in those categories

Khabibulin's also has a history of being a good goalie in the past. Re-finding your game isn't unheard of.

In related news, Pascal Leclaire is probably still injured

In related news, Pascal Leclaire is probably still injured

It is ok.

Markov, DiPietro, and Tim Connolly can give him plenty of company.

Good for Elliot, but I'd be ECSTATIC if he was the goalie Ottawa was facing in the playoffs.

Trade Spezza for him!

Sample size.

Well, for Elliott... Halak > Leclaire.

Elliott was mishandled here. He wasn't ready to be a #1 but was thrown into that position anyways. Not to mention the crap team playing in front of him.

St.Louis is a perfect place for him. He's more then capable of stepping in and playing 5 to 10 good games if Halak is injured or struggling, otherwise he makes a great back up.

Nice try. What happened here was a young goalie/back up goalie's wet dream.

Starter goes down often and for long stretches giving you the opportunity to show your stuff. Brian showed that he could be good for stretches but could not be counted on night after night. Other goalies seize the opportunity and never look back; they become starters, Elliot just isn't that guy, and I'm glad we found that out before making any more goal tending decisions.

Murray didn't want to have that again the next season, as we were losing our starter, so we traded him for a better goalie; simple as that. Brian is fine and happy where he is. His last year here showed him and everyone what he is capable of and so he should do well being the back up in St. Louis.

As far as I'm concerned it's good for him, and good for us!

I've always liked him. Was always very underrated till he got there. That said, people never thought he'd make it to the NHL... his potential had him as possibly becoming a second tier type starting goalie, and he never hit that and won't hit that. shouldn't be a surprise.

He's good. Wish him the best. But he's not going to be much long term

Elliot sucks. Plain and simple.

Not surprised..if only Murray left him in Bingo for that playoff run he would have been ready for NHL games..

Done, case proven on this subject

Lehner will benefit from this mistake

Right now is the age goalies begin breaking into the NHL at.. sure there are exceptions but for the most part 26 and later is when we see goalies get there real first taste at being anything more then a backup.

He was rushed here.

He was rushed here.

Yea, ok.

Played 2 years in the AHL and the second year he was clearly dominating and had no place there anymore.

He isn't NHL material. Can't handle the pressure of a starter.

Yea, ok.

Played 2 years in the AHL and the second year he was clearly dominating and had no place there anymore.

He isn't NHL material. Can't handle the pressure of a starter.

This is Fuhr's point... he was rushed, Leclaire's injuries forced Elliott to play more minutes than he was ready for. On top of that we had a complete defensive system breakdown last season.

He always had these 5-8 game streak where he would stop everything, let's wait and see him come back down to earth soon...

Yea, ok.

Played 2 years in the AHL and the second year he was clearly dominating and had no place there anymore.

He isn't NHL material. Can't handle the pressure of a starter.

At what age did the following goalies break in as number one's?
Rinne
Miller
Thomas
Backstrom
Nabokov
Kipper
Crawford
Howard

It begins to paint a pretty clear picture on how goalies mature and the kind of isolation they need.

Elliott got none of that here

Right now is the age goalies begin breaking into the NHL at.. sure there are exceptions but for the most part 26 and later is when we see goalies get there real first taste at being anything more then a backup.

He was rushed here.
He was also drafted LAST so.......

He was also drafted LAST so.......

And Belfour was never drafted so......

Also, Arseny Bondarev holds the distinction of being drafted last in 2003.

'member last year when our coach was trying to ruin every player's career?

i do.

At what age did the following goalies break in as number one's?
Rinne
Miller
Thomas
Backstrom
Nabokov
Kipper
Crawford
Howard

It begins to paint a pretty clear picture on how goalies mature and the kind of isolation they need.

Elliott got none of that here



Rushed or not rushed, hes a loser, and 4 or 5 games is no reason to think otherwise, I liked Elliott, and i'll be happy for him if at the end of the season you can refer back to this quote as being wrong, but im telling you now he'll never be anything.

While I am a fan of Elliott and felt he got the short straw on this deal. I still feel Anderson was a steal for Elliott.

I wish Elliott well... he just needed more time and not to be in a hot pot like Ottawa.

People like to hate on Elliott, but the guy was obviously rushed into the NHL and he still showed signs of promise.

Him and Jimmy Howard were drafted in 2003. Howard was drafted in the 2nd round and still came up a year after Elliott. For a guy drafted in the 9th round, he succeeded more than anyone thought, he just needed more time.

I'm glad as hell we got Anderson out of him as he has the ability to take a crappy team into the playoffs but that takes nothing away from Ells. He came up too early and played behind some of the worst defending this team has seen.

So what.

Craig Anderson is 42nd in GAA and 41st in SV%.

I'm starting to believe in the myth that Ottawa is a goalie graveyard. Yikes.

Elliot's major problem in Ottawa was having a lousy defensive team in front of him on most nights. Its been the problem for all goalies that have played for Ottawa over the years, leading to the graveyard reference.

At what age did the following goalies break in as number one's?
Rinne
Miller
Thomas
Backstrom
Nabokov
Kipper
Crawford
Howard

It begins to paint a pretty clear picture on how goalies mature and the kind of isolation they need.

Elliott got none of that here

While I agree with that in general Ottawa had their fair share of goalie problems over the yrs (Hasek, Emery, Leclaire). Leclaire's injuries resulted in rushing Elliott much quicker than intended & although he was doing fine up to last yr, last yr he was certainly overwhelmed.

Elliot's major problem in Ottawa was having a lousy defensive team in front of him on most nights. Its been the problem for all goalies that have played for Ottawa over the years, leading to the graveyard reference.

no i still have nightmares about the stupid goals he let in

I still remmeber that game against Washington where Semin just kept shooting top glove side all night long on him and Elliott just couldnt adjust

Right now is the age goalies begin breaking into the NHL at.. sure there are exceptions but for the most part 26 and later is when we see goalies get there real first taste at being anything more then a backup.

He was rushed here.

yes, he was. He showed glimpses of what could be, but never the consistency to maintain it.

He always had these 5-8 game streak where he would stop everything, let's wait and see him come back down to earth soon...

This.

He went on some awesome streaks with us. If he is consistent, then I'll be mad he's gone.

lol so now it's because Elliott has been rushed?

Let's check the facts for fun...


- 4 COMPLETE years in College. He was 22 y/o when he terminated College

- 82 AHL Games in 3 different seasons... He was almost 24 y/o when he graduated in the NHL


After looking at those facts closely, he was definitely rushed. He should have played at least 3-4 more years in the AHL. Gosh, look at Tim Thomas.


That being said, it will be a good excuse to explain why Brian Elliott never wins a Vezina. "Man, it's because he was rushed"

Now he gets a dose of Hitchcock - he'll be under the lights a little more I think.

lol so now it's because Elliott has been rushed?

Let's check the facts for fun...


- 4 COMPLETE years in College. He was 22 y/o when he terminated College

- 82 AHL Games in 3 different seasons... He was almost 24 y/o when he graduated in the NHL


After looking at those facts closely, he was definitely rushed. He should have played at least 3-4 more years in the AHL. Gosh, look at Tim Thomas.


That being said, it will be a good excuse to explain why Brian Elliott never wins a Vezina. "Man, it's because he was rushed"

The guy clearly wasn't ready to be a starter. I'm sure that's what the "rushed" remark refers to.

And to those dismissing him as a "loser"- winning the Frozen Four is no small feat.

Snipe him high gloveside, goal.

The guy clearly wasn't ready to be a starter. I'm sure that's what the "rushed" remark refers to.

Well, it was possible for Elliott to become the starter in Ottawa since his only competition in Ottawa was Martin Gerber, Alex Auld and Jeff Glass... ... ... :help:

Actually, I'm pretty sure Elliott was really happy about that, not many other places in the NHL would offer such an oportunity for a 24 y/o goalie. So, he had all the way cleared to earn the #1 job, but just wasn't mentally able to keep it. That's when everyone discovered than Elliott wasn't a real N.1 goalie, he wasn't able to turn his game around. His only way to turn his game around was to become a N.2 once again.

Of course, a better situation is to be like Tuukka Rask and have Tim Thomas in front of you. I think it's a big reason why Craig Anderson was signed for a few years. So Robin Lehner won't have to be the guy with all the pressure at such a young age. Also, for the same reasons, the Sens signed Gonchar and re-signed Chris Phillips to 3-year deals. They didn't want to put too much on Cowen, Karlsson and Rundblad's shoulders...

Yet, people still complain. Why? Because they don't think very deeply.

Well, it was possible for Elliott to become the starter in Ottawa since his only competition in Ottawa was Martin Gerber, Alex Auld and Jeff Glass... ... ... :help:

Actually, I'm pretty sure Elliott was really happy about that, not many other places in the NHL would offer such an oportunity for a 24 y/o goalie. So, he had all the way cleared to earn the #1 job, but just wasn't mentally able to keep it. That's when everyone discovered than Elliott wasn't a real N.1 goalie, he wasn't able to turn his game around. His only way to turn his game around was to become a N.2 once again.

That's what I meant by "wasn't ready"...

Snipe him high gloveside, goal.

HA! True story.

Update the title to say he's 1st in GAA and Sv%, tied for 1st in shutouts w/ 4, and tied w/ Andy for 9th at 13 wins.

'member last year when our coach was trying to ruin every player's career?

i do.

Clouston can't sign or trade for goalies. He had Elliot who was overplayed and ran into the ground, Leclaire who was always injured and Lehner who had no business being near the NHL last year. Management completly screwed the pooch on that one.

Meh.

Water under the bridge. Move on.

So I watched the St. Louis game last night where Elliott gave up one goal. He played well. He didn't have to make any spectacular saves and he was positionally very sound. The St. Louis system doesn't give up too many high percentage chances and they are very good at clearing space in front of the net.

I still attest though that behind Ottawa's defense this season, he would struggle.

Good on the kid for excelling though. He's overcome the odds at every level he's played.

How easily people seem to forget how bad Elliott was last year. Elliott was good for one awful every single game and as soon as he let one in, it was down hill from there. Anderson hasn't been a world-beater like he was last year, but he's not letting in awful unscreened wristers from the blue line that totally kill the team.

If you do as badly as Elliott did at your job, you aren't keeping it.

Too many people ragging on Elliott. The guy will be a very decent goalie, he's still young. We just completely mismanaged him.

Elliott's confidence was shattered here in Ottawa and now under Hitchcock's "defense first" system a good goalie can look great.

In Ottawa we have a weaker defense, prone to turnovers which leads not only to shots but incredible scoring chances (as we have seen in the last 3 games).

The good news is that the forwards are coming back more unlike the Kovalev days.
Things will get better as our defense gets more experience but to say we are playoff bound is a stretch.

Elliott wouldn't be putting up those numbers in an Ottawa uniform obviously. I never doubted that he could be a great backup, I just didn't see him being a great starter.

He's proving me slightly wrong but that's more to do with the team he's playing on. As I mentioned before, he reminds me of a slightly weaker version of Jimmy Howard, and Howard wouldn't have as nice of stats that he does if he wasn't on Detroit.

There is a good possibility that we are currently the worst defensive team in the league.

That said, the possibility that Elliott is a better goalie than Anderson at this point is quite a bit stronger than that.