Morgan Ellis
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Birthday:
1992-04-30 |
Position:
D |
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Eligible for draft:
2010 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2010 |
Height:
6-2 |
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Acquired:
4th round (117th overall), 2010 |
Weight:
205 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
2007-08: Chosen in the third round of the 2008 QMJHL Draft by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
2008-09: In his QMJHL rookie season, Ellis played in 52 games for the Eagles, notching 6 assistsand 45 penalty minutes in those games. Played in 10 playoff games, picking up 1 assist.
2009-10: In his second season with the Screaming Eagles, Eliis appeared in 60 games for that club. He scored 4 goals and added 25 assists for 29 points and tacked on 56 penalty minutes. Ellis scored 1 goal in 5 playoff games. Missed the cut for Team Canada's Under-18 entry at the World Junior Championships.
2010-11: Ellis was team captain and the top defenseman for Cape Breton in his third QMJHL season. In 65 games for the Eagles he scored 8 goals with 28 assists – both tops among Cape Breton defensemen. Ellis also had 65 PMs and a -27 plus/minus which could be attributed to playing for an Eagles squad that allowed 122 more goals than it scored. Despite winning just 18 games, Cape Breton qualified for the QMJHL's last playoff spot. In the Eagles' four-game, first round loss to eventual Memorial Cup champion Saint John, Ellis was scoreless and -4 with 8 PMs.
2011-12: After a good 2011 NHL Training Camp with the Montreal Canadiens, Morgan Ellis was returned to the QJMHL Cape Breton Screaming Eagles where he played his fourth season and second as their captain. He scored seven goals (six on the power play) along with 18 assists and a minus three rating while taking only 18 PIMs in 34 QJMHL games for Cape Breton. Ellis was selected to represent the QJMHL at the 2011 Subway Super Series against Team Russia and was asked to play a shutdown role for the team in the two game series. On December 31st, the defenseman was trade to the Shawinigan Cataractes and his overall game really took off. He finished the regular season by scoring eight goals along 19 assists and a solid plus 21 in 26 games for Shawinigan. Ellis was a force at both ends of the ice for the Cataractes in both of their QJMHL playoff series. In the first round, the all-round defenseman put up two goals along five assists while his defense partner, Brandon Gormley (PHX) was still out of actions with an ankle injury. In the tough seven game series against Chicoutimi, the puck moving defender only scored twice and added just two assists but still managed to play at a point per game along with a plus 14 rating in 11 playoff games. The offensive defenseman finished in 8th place amongst all QJMHL defensemen for the playoffs despite playing in only 11 games. After returning from a layoff of about a month, Ellis played huge minutes in winning the 2012 Memorial Cup Championship in overtime.
Talent Analysis
Ellis is a solid all-round defenseman who plays with grit and physicality which allows him to play the shutdown role and on both specialty teams. He has poise with the puck, quick strike passing and hard accurate point shot. The smooth skater defender also brings leadership, character and a calm demeanor both on and off the ice but will need to show more aggression deep in the defensive zone at the professional level.
Future
Ellis has gain valuable experience winning the Memorial Cup and has played his last season in the QJMHL. He should start his professional career in the AHL with Hamilton for the upcoming season where the talented defenseman will continue his development.
