Shortly after announcing the trade of goaltender Chris Mason to the St. Louis Blues, the Nashville Predators announced the re-signing of goalie Dan Ellis to a two year, $3.5 million contract, paying him $1.5 million next season and $2 million in 2009-10. 

Don’t be surprised if Ellis ends up with roughly the same salary ($3 million per season) that Mason made. Actually it's less and quite affordable, breaking down to around $1.75 million per season.

Ellis was a pleasant surprise for the Predators last season, for with only one previous NHL game under his belt ( in 2003-04 with the Dallas Stars), the 27-year-old made a sensational debut in 2007-08, posting a 23-10-3 record in 44 games, with a 2.34 goals-against average, 6 shutouts and a league-leading .924 save percentage.

It was that performance which wrested the starting goalie job away from incumbent Chris Mason, and in the Predators six-game opening round elimination to the Detroit Red Wings Ellis was outstanding, stealing two wins for the over-matched Preds in a series that was much closer than it should’ve been.

Due to his age and years in the minors Ellis was eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, and in order to retain him and elevate promising Pekka Rinne the Preds had to deal away Mason to free up the necessary cap space.

The Predators are taking a gamble here as there’s always the possibility Ellis could turn into a one-year wonder, but given his amazing 2007-08 performance it’s a gamble worth taking.