Preds re-sign D Weber, G Ellis

Jun 23, 2008 - 7:08 PM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators evidently feel that Shea Weber is worth a hefty investment.

The Predators made a strong commitment to Weber on Monday, signing the defenseman to a three-year contract worth $13.5 million.

Nashville also finalized its contract with goaltender Dan Ellis, who agreed to terms with the Predators last week and inked a two-year, $3.5 million deal Monday.

One of Nashville's top two-way threats on the blue line, Weber would have become a restricted free agent at the end of this month. But the Predators had no interest in letting the 22-year-old Weber test the open market.

"Shea has evolved into one of our core players," Predators general manager David Poile said. "He is both a player and a person that every team covets. He is big and strong, skates well and possesses a booming shot."

A British Columbia native, Weber appeared in 54 contests last season for the Predators, collecting six goals and 14 assists in a campaign shortened by injuries. The 6-3 blue-liner also had a goal and three assists in six playoff games this year.

A second-round draft selection in 2003, Weber has 25 goals and 45 assists in parts of three seasons with the Predators.

Ellis, 28, agreed in principle to a multi-year contract last Friday - the same day that Nashville traded goaltender Chris Mason to the St. Louis Blues.

Expected to be Mason's backup last season, Ellis emerged as the Predators' starter, going 23-10-3 with a franchise-record six shutouts, a 2.34 GAA and a league-leading .924 save percentage. He went 17-6-3 down the stretch, registering a shutout streak of 233 minutes, 38 seconds - also a franchise record - along the way.

"We have the utmost confidence that Dan Ellis is a No. 1 goaltender in the National Hockey League," Poile said. "When given the opportunity to display his skill and talent, he rose to the occasion and was a crucial part of our team making the playoffs in 2008."

Ellis was superb in the postseason despite Nashville's loss to the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference quarterfinals, registering a 2.52 GAA and .938 save percentage during the six-game series while almost singlehandedly keeping the Predators in each contest.