Apparently Dan Ellis's even strength SV% is really good, better than Nabby's and pretty much all other free agent goaltenders out there. Somehow the Predators had the 3rd WORST penalty kill % in the league this season. How they do that with the defensemen they have is kind of puzzling but definitely good news for us if we sign Ellis since the Sharks have always had a pretty solid PK anyways. (which will hopefully be even better after improving our D)

Here's the article from Behind the Net with some information about the free agent agent goaltenders out there and their even strength SV%'s, check it out:

http://www.behindthenethockey.com/2010/5/25/1486097/2010-free-agent-goaltender-market

 

Also here's some stuff from a Copper & Blue article that pertains to Dan Ellis:

Here's a chart they posted showing the SV%, even strength SV% (EVSV%), and PK SV% for the goaltenders who made the playoffs:

The goalies that have benefited from a high PK save percentage without the EV save percentage to back it up are highlighted in red.  The goalies with a reasonably strong EV save percentage but who have been hurt by a weak number on the PK are highlighted in green:

 

Some interesting things to note include Nashville and Washington who each have both goalies highlighted in green.  This may imply that those teams aren't very good at controlling shot quality on the PK.  It may also signal that those teams have had very poor luck with their goaltending on the PK.  If it's the former, it's a somewhat new development.  Although both Nashville goalies had a poor PK save percentage last season, in 2007-08 Dan Ellis was among the league leaders with a PK save percentage of .918.  For Washington, Semyon Varlamov posted .886 last season if we combine his results in the regular season and playoffs.  If I were a fan of the Predators or Capitals, I would find some hope in the strong EV performance and realize that my goaltenders are probably better than their overall save percentages imply.

So this likely means that Dan Ellis's less than spectacular SV% of .909 is probably due in part to shortcomings by the Predators on the Penalty Kill, and if the Sharks were to sign him he would likely have a SV% closer to his EVSV% of .923.

This is probably good news for the Sharks considering that our options in net are becoming pretty slim; and there's a good chance that Dan Ellis could be our starting goaltender next year if Nabokov is not resigned.