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Nashville Predators: Forgotten Unsung Heroes of the Past

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 17: David Legwand #11 and Joel Ward #29 of the Nashville Predators congratulate teammate Martin Erat #10, center, on scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on April 17, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 17: David Legwand #11 and Joel Ward #29 of the Nashville Predators congratulate teammate Martin Erat #10, center, on scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on April 17, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Dan Ellis

Before Pekka Rinne really took control of the net for the Nashville Predators, Dan Ellis was the guy. It was for a brief time, but his numbers were actually pretty respectable.

If Rinne wasn’t so wildly talented, I think Ellis sticks around for much longer as the starting goaltender for the Predators. Instead he just had three seasons for the Predators, putting up 98 starts.

Ellis’ first season for the Predators saw him put up top-notch numbers with a .924 save percentage and an unfathomable shutout streak that lasted over four games.

The Predators have always been lucky to have high quality goaltending, even before Rinne came along. Ellis was one of those guys, but he often gets overlooked for Tomas Vokoun, Mike Dunham and Chris Mason.

Ellis nearly got the Predators past the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs, but the team just didn’t have the offensive firepower to overcome. Eventually Rinne would rightly take over for good, but Ellis deserves a lot of credit during that time before Rinne.

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