Canucks sign defenceman Taylor Ellington
Vancouver Canucks
Mar 16, 2009, 12:50 PM EDT
Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have signed defenceman Taylor Ellington. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ellington, 20, currently plays with the Everett Silvertips where he is an alternate captain and leads all defencemen in points (6-25-31) and power play goals (6) through 68 games played.
The 6’2”, 209 lbs. defenceman currently holds the Silvertips record for most games played (career) with 286 regular season and 33 playoff games in five seasons with Everett.
The Victoria native was originally selected 33rd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Hmm, so he might be an actual prospect? I'm curious to see how he progresses. It'd be nice if that draft wasn't a total waste.
No idea if he's an actual NHL prospect, a team still needs to sign players that will contribute at other levels in the organization. And who knows perhaps he develops over the next 3 years and does become a guy who has a future as a #6/7 guy.
No idea if he's an actual NHL prospect, a team still needs to sign players that will contribute at other levels in the organization. And who knows perhaps he develops over the next 3 years and does become a guy who has a future as a #6/7 guy.
I still think he has more upside than that... I think that people are underrating him, just like they have Patrick White, just because they aren't as good as the positions they were drafted in. If White and Ellington were 3rd-4th round picks, a lot more people, I think, would consider them to have NHL upside.
Ellington did put up pretty good offensive numbers in junior this year for a guy who's a defensive dman, with limited offensive potential... he could definitely be a late-bloomer... at his age, he's probably a more accomplished prospect than Bieksa was at the same age... Bieksa didn't show much offensively at the same age in the NCAA.
Not saying that Ellington can turn out to be as good, or even a similar dman... just that's it's way too early to write him off... IMO he still has a shot of being a #4 guy in the NHL.
and I think White still has that shot of being a contributing player at the NHL level.
both guys are likely at least 2-3 years away though.
IIRC he has to be signed after he's done his 4yrs in the NCAA.
I'm not so sure that's correct, I think it depends on whether he elects to turn pro or not. Blake Wheeler after all hit UFA and he only played three years in the NCAA. I'm not sure at all on this stuff though.
If I were Gillis though I'd really like to see White turn pro so he can develop with the Moose.
Ellington did put up pretty good offensive numbers in junior this year for a guy who's a defensive dman, with limited offensive potential... he could definitely be a late-bloomer... at his age, he's probably a more accomplished prospect than Bieksa was at the same age... Bieksa didn't show much offensively at the same age in the NCAA.
Bieksa was also a 5th round pick compared to a HIGH 2nd round pick (just a few picks from the 1st round) for Ellington. Much different level of expectations for either player. Of course Bieksa had flaws when he was drafted (else he wouldn't have gone so late in the draft). But I expect a player with some decent upside with the 33rd pick.
Good offensive numbers? meh. He's a man playing against mostly boys. I'd expect his numbers to noticeably increase in his final year in the WHL.
Points per game:
Bieksa:
1st year in NCAA............0.37
2nd year in NCAA...........0.375
3rd year in NCAA............0.735
4th year in NCAA............0.579
Ellington:
1st year in WHL..............0.0 (bear in mind he was only 16)
2nd year in WHL.............0.11
3rd year in WHL..............0.217
4th year in WHL..............0.292
5th year in WHL..............0.464
Not that similiar IMHO. I'm not an expert but isn't the NCAA a higher level league than the WHL?
Last edited by Barney Gumble: 03-16-2009 at 01:02 PM.
Bieksa was also a 5th round pick compared to a HIGH 2nd round pick (just a few picks from the 1st round) for Ellington. Much different level of expectations for either player.
Good offensive numbers? meh. He's a man playing against mostly boys. I'd expect his numbers to noticeably increase in his final year in the WHL.
Points per game:
Bieksa:
1st year in NCAA............0.37
2nd year in NCAA...........0.375
3rd year in NCAA............0.735
4th year in NCAA............0.579
Ellington:
1st year in WHL..............0.0 (bear in mind he was only 16)
2nd year in WHL.............0.11
3rd year in WHL..............0.217
4th year in WHL..............0.292
5th year in WHL..............0.464
Not that similiar IMHO. I'm not an expert but isn't the NCAA a higher level league than the WHL?
do offensive production really matter for a defenseman?
If Ellington can be a Mitchell and produce those kinda numbers...what will you say then?
Although I should go find out more about Ellington's scouting report...I just want to say for a defenseman, offensive production shouldnt matter that much, especially from prospects.
do offensive production really matter for a defenseman?
If Ellington can be a Mitchell and produce those kinda numbers...what will you say then?
Although I should go find out more about Ellington's scouting report...I just want to say for a defenseman, offensive production shouldnt matter that much, especially from prospects.
I see the point you're trying to make but the player you used isn't a good example. Willie Mitchell put up respectible offensive numbers in the NCAA.
Offensive numbers do matter to a degree. Defensive defenseman with limited offensive skills are a "dime a dozen". Not too hard to pick up "Davison types" in the off-season. My point is that one shouldn't use a 33rd overall pick on such a player. It should be used on players with offensive skills (whether that be forward or defenseman). Those type of players are much harder to come by.
do offensive production really matter for a defenseman?
If Ellington can be a Mitchell and produce those kinda numbers...what will you say then?
Although I should go find out more about Ellington's scouting report...I just want to say for a defenseman, offensive production shouldnt matter that much, especially from prospects.
The thing is pretty much every good top-4 defensive defenseman put up very good numbers in Junior. Guys like Willie Mitchell, Cory Sarich, Chris Philllips, Scott Hannan, Robyn Regehr, Jason Smith, etc. showed significantly more offensive potential as 18/19 year olds than Taylor Ellington has and none of them are very big point producers at the NHL level. You need to have some puck skills and offensive creativity and you can't be an offensive liability to play a top-4 role in the NHL.
Maybe the offense will come for Ellington, but it's certainly going to be an uphill battle for him to make an impact as anything more than a bottom pairing defenseman.
The thing is pretty much every good top-4 defensive defenseman put up very good numbers in Junior. Guys like Willie Mitchell, Cory Sarich, Chris Philllips, Scott Hannan, Robyn Regehr, Jason Smith, etc. showed significantly more offensive potential as 18/19 year olds than Taylor Ellington has and none of them are very big point producers at the NHL level. You need to have some puck skills and offensive creativity and you can't be an offensive liability to play a top-4 role in the NHL.
Maybe the offense will come for Ellington, but it's certainly going to be an uphill battle for him to make an impact as anything more than a bottom pairing defenseman.
This. Willie Mitchell put up close to a PPG in his final year in college!
Them or the Salmon Kings. I think he'll have to wait until his season with Everett is done though(not sure when that is or if it already is over?).
The Silvertips finished 27-36-9, but they still managed to make the playoffs. It's likely they are eliminated in the first round, so Ellington will probably be with the Moose for the final few games of the AHL's regular season
Defensemen also typically take longer to develop. Ellington isn't exactly delighting me with his play, but there's no point to give up on him. Perhaps he just needs to be 'nurtured' via Gillis' new development philosophy.
Regardless, the Canucks have next to nothing in the farm system when it comes to defensemen, so you have to take what you can get.
Defensemen also typically take longer to develop. Ellington isn't exactly delighting me with his play, but there's no point to give up on him. Perhaps he just needs to be 'nurtured' via Gillis' new development philosophy.
Regardless, the Canucks have next to nothing in the farm system when it comes to defensemen, so you have to take what you can get.
I don't want to give the impression that Ellington is completely garbage and shouldn't have been drafted - only that Nonis shouldn't have selected so high (could care less if they were "worried" another team was interested in him).
It's because our farm system is so sparse with offensively gifted players that I have this opinion. Especially when we already had a defensive defenseman prospect who is also a defensive defenseman with probably the same upside/downside - Rahimi.
Another example of how it's not that difficult to get 3rd pairing "D" who are defensive defenseman - look who we picked up off of waivers - Vaananen.
Unless the guy is 6'9" I don't think you should waste a draft pick, any round, on a purely defensive defenseman.
Solid defensive play takes years to develop. Every year we pick up guys like Rory Fitzpatrick, Aaron Miller, Ossi Vaananen, etc. for peanuts. Let someone else develop these guys.
Defensemen also typically take longer to develop. Ellington isn't exactly delighting me with his play, but there's no point to give up on him. Perhaps he just needs to be 'nurtured' via Gillis' new development philosophy.
Regardless, the Canucks have next to nothing in the farm system when it comes to defensemen, so you have to take what you can get.
Yeah, I don't think anyone (or at least any reasonable person) is saying he's a bust, but the odds are against him becoming a valuable player. Maybe he develops well and does reach a high level of play, but it's unlikely (but not impossible) at this point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeftCoast
Unless the guy is 6'9" I don't think you should waste a draft pick, any round, on a purely defensive defenseman.
Solid defensive play takes years to develop. Every year we pick up guys like Rory Fitzpatrick, Aaron Miller, Ossi Vaananen, etc. for peanuts. Let someone else develop these guys.
There is little to no value in defensive defensemen outside of the elite shutdown-only guys (and even then I'd argue you get better bang for your buck with more well rounded players, for the most part). You don't create a winning team by having Taylor Ellington replacing Ossi Vaananen for $300k in savings for the cap. You create winning team by having young players play in key roles on your team saving yourself millions.
If he ever does develop by that point it's likely the Canucks will be re-signing him for market value anyway.
I don't want to give the impression that Ellington is completely garbage and shouldn't have been drafted - only that Nonis shouldn't have selected so high (could care less if they were "worried" another team was interested in him).
It's because our farm system is so sparse with offensively gifted players that I have this opinion. Especially when we already had a defensive defenseman prospect who is also a defensive defenseman with probably the same upside/downside - Rahimi.
Oh, I didn't get that impression at all.
I was more responding to the people who were like 'so I guess we can consider him a prospect now?' and stuff.
