Predators' Ryan Ellis Linked to Trade with Philadelphia Flyers

Last month the Nashville Predators were declared sellers for this season's trade deadline and three names were shared as 'untouchables'. Right-handed defenseman Ryan Ellis was on the list...turns out things may have changed.

The Predators continue to discuss multiple trades with a number of teams, mostly surrounding forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Mattias Ekholm, but if you ask one of hockey's biggest insiders, he sees Ellis being available and the Philadelphia Flyers being his next home.

This is purely my opinion, but Ellis screams Philadelphia. Predators head coach John Hynes revealed the blueliner recently had surgery, so he’s not solving anyone’s short-term problems. That fits for the Flyers, since he can still be an impactful player for years. The way they’ve played, they’re not moving major pieces to save the spring of 2021. But Ellis could replace a valuable loss — Matt Niskanen — for the long term.

An Ellis/Ivan Provorov partnership? Does anyone else think Philadelphia might leap at that? - Elliotte Friedman, 31 Thoughts, Sportsnet

The 30-year-old is signed for the next six seasons at just over $6 million. So far in 21 games this season he's managed only nine points but is coming off a season which saw him record 38 points in 49 games.

Flyers fans would love this move as Ellis would provide another offensive threat for their blueline. Predators fans on the other hand aren't quite dead set on a full rebuild.