Dan Ellis emails reporter to ask for Roberto Luongo’s job with Canucks
Dan Ellis needs a job.
He's an unrestricted free agent goalie from the Anaheim Ducks, looking at 30 teams that by and large have their netminding set for next season. Europe is an option; but he'd rather stay in the National Hockey League.
The Vancouver Canucks could, in theory, have a job opening soon when Roberto Luongo is traded.
So Ellis did what any proactive job seeker in this economy would do: He got creative.
Ellis emailed Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province "to trumpet how good a fit he would be as a backup to Cory Schneider next NHL season," and the resulting article lobbies the Canucks to consider Ellis as a viable goaltending option once Luongo leaves.
"I would love to back up Cory if the spot becomes available," Ellis said in the email. "Helping young goalies get to their full potential is fun to be a part of. Sometimes just lightening their load makes all the difference in the world."
… "I understand my role. I knew Hiller was the guy. Rather than trying to steal the net, you try to provide minutes but help your partner be the best he can be. It's a different dynamic, but when the role is clarified, it's a lot easier.
"The 1A and 1B can change and there's a different mindset and every single game you don't know what's going to happen. Knowing Pekka and Jonas [were starters] you're able to adapt to that and manage your game."
So does Kuzma get a finder's fee if this thing goes down?
The tough part for Ellis: Conventional wisdom is that the Florida Panthers will ship a goaltender — perhaps Jose Theodore — back to the Canucks in a deal for Luongo.
But kudos to Ellis for being proactive … and for choosing an electronic medium that doesn't make him come off as an oblivious millionaire.
