Sabres give F Matt Ellis one-year, two-way deal
Matt Ellis is the kind of forward Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff loves, gritty, physical and a good locker-room presence. Critics would say Ellis is the perfect Ruff player because he's also a fourth-line winger who provides little offense.
Fair or not, Ellis signed a one-year deal with the Sabres on Tuesday, his 29th birthday. The Sabres didn't disclose financial terms, but authoritative Capgeek.com reports the pact is for $625,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 if he slips to the AHL.
Ellis enters his third season in Buffalo off the best season of his career, with three goals and 10 assists in 72 games. His career totals: 13 goals and 20 assists in 187 games, starting with the Detroit Red Wings in 2006-07 and including a stint with the Los Angeles Kings. The Wings signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2002. The Sabres nabbed him off waivers from the Kings.
He was paid $500,000 last season and was an unrestricted free agent.
The move comes a month after GM Darcy Regier told the Buffalo News he had decided not to re-sign Ellis, or for that matter winger Adam Mair.
The News opines that Ellis could be a depth player with the Sabres and a veteran presence for their AHL Portland affiliate.
Mair has yet to sign.