Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis has recorded four goals and seven assists through 16 playoff games, giving him more points than teammates Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Viktor Arvidsson, and James Neal. In fact, his 11 points are second behind Erik Karlsson among defensemen this postseason.
But points don't tell the whole story. Here are three other stats that justify how good Ellis has been this spring:
Giveaway/takeaway ratio
Giveaways and takeaways often get overlooked, but puck management is crucial in the postseason, when one turnover can change a series.
Ellis has put together an impressive ratio of 10 takeaways to 13 giveaways. Here's how that stacks up against the rest of the Predators' defense:
| Player | TK | GV |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Ellis | 10 | 13 |
| P.K. Subban | 9 | 23 |
| Roman Josi | 2 | 22 |
| Mattias Ekholm | 9 | 24 |
| Yannick Weber | 4 | 7 |
| Matt Irwin | 3 | 4 |
In fact, the only defensemen with more takeaways in the postseason are Karlsson (16), Josh Manson (12), and Dmitry Orlov (11).
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Thru%
Through percentage calculates the number of shot attempts that reach the net. Getting pucks through from the point is even tougher in the playoffs considering players are much more willing to block shots. Ellis, however, has managed to get 43 of his 84 shot attempts on goal, for a Thru% of 51.2. Here's how the rest of the Preds' D has fared:
| Player | Thru% |
|---|---|
| Ellis | 51.2 |
| Subban | 46.2 |
| Josi | 44.4 |
| Ekholm | 39.6 |
| Weber | 30.8 |
| Irwin | 25.0 |
One reason why Ellis' Thru% is so high is because he's great at one-timing cross-ice passes, which gives opponents less time to get in the shooting lane. And when the big clapper isn't there, he's willing to just throw a wrist shot on goal. Any puck that gets on net from the point can lead to a scoring chance as long as there's traffic in front.
The only defensemen with a higher Thru% in the playoffs than Ellis are Kevin Shattenkirk (57.1), Alex Pietrangelo (54.7), and Brandon Montour (52.1) (minimum 50 shot attempts).
Blocked shots
This one is much more straightforward. Ellis has recorded an impressive 41 blocks, which not only leads his team, but has him ranked fifth overall in the postseason.
Along with his contributions on the offensive end, he's willing to put his body on the line for his teammates on the defensive end. It's safe the say the Predators wouldn't be in the Cup Final without the stellar play of their 26-year-old blue-liner.
(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference)
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