Blues Bring In Elliot to Push Bishop & Halak
The St. Louis Blues went outside the organization for the third consecutive off season to add a goaltender to their ranks. Signing Brian Elliot Friday to a one year, two way contract. The deal pays out $600,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in the AHL.
The Newmarket, Ontario native broke in to the league with the Ottawa Senators but was moved to the Colorado Avalanche in a trade last season. In 55 games he posted a 15-27-9 record with three shutouts, a 3.34 GAA and .893 save percentage. For his career Elliot is 61-53-16 with nine shutouts, a 2.90 GAA and .901 save percentage.
Brian Elliot (Cycleorama/Flickr)
General Manager Doug Armstrong explained pickup in the team’s official announcement.
“We [the Blues] were looking for a goaltender to come in and compete with Ben Bishop for the second spot behind Jaroslav Halak. This move strengthens our goaltending position in the organization.”
Consensus has been that Bishop isn’t going anywhere other than St. Louis or Peoria. Monday’s qualifying offer all but guarantees his presence in the organization for another season. However, adding Elliot confirms that doubts exist in within the Blues that Bishop is ready to leave the nest and fly down I-55 for good. His numbers in the AHL are respectable, but far from outstanding. In 121 games with the Rivermen he has posted a 57-50-8 record with a 2.70 GAA and .904 save percentage. In comparison, Elliot’s AHL history isn’t much better, but he does have 142 games in the NHL. Including a solid 2009-10 campaign where he helped the Senators reach the playoffs.
There is an interesting angle to take on Elliot’s starting experience. He can also push Halak.
Suppose that Halak’s struggles last season went beyond learning a conference’s worth of shooters habits and injuries. What if he just wasn’t as motivated. Carey Price wasn’t sitting on the bench, burning to take his job back. Journeyman Ty Conklin was sporting various team hats from the 90′s and working out which facial hair set up made him look the most “bootheel”. Halak was safe and snug in his position. Sure, Conks had started before. But he’s never been THE guy and it wasn’t going to magically happen in St. Louis.
Elliot can come in with a solid camp, send Bishop back with Jake Allen and take games from Halak.
Someone like Mike Smith would have pushed Jaro harder, but he went to Phoenix. Other options were already sitting comfortably with their new deals by the time the Blues got to someone ready to sign.
For those wondering, the Blues will likely have no more than $4.1 million invest in goal. That is assuming Bishop signs for the same or less than Elliot. Approximately 3% of the estimated $49 million payroll budget.
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For more info on Elliot, check out this audio clip from the Goalie Guild.
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