Ryan Ellis was already being coveted as a potential July 2019 unrestricted free agent -- as the kind of defenseman a team could build a blue line around. Which is why Nashville Predators general manager David Poile didn't allow him to get within sniffing distance of the open market, signing the 27-year-old defenseman to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension that kicks in for the 2019-20 season. The final year of Ellis's contract in 2018-19 carries a $2.5 million hit. His $6.25 million cap hit is the 21st highest in the NHL among defenseman for the 2019-20 season. P.K. Subban of the Predators is second on that list at $9 million against the cap. read more http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/...ators-d-ryan-ellis-signs-8-year-50m-extension
