Steven Ellis
LightNews LightNews
banner
stevenpellis.ca
Steven Ellis
@stevenpellis.ca
3.1K followers 180 following 2.2K posts
Associate Editor and Prospect Analyst for Daily Faceoff. Leafs stories for The Leafs Nation. Greatest iRacer ever.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
stevenpellis.ca
Steven Ellis @stevenpellis.ca · 16d
Got my cat Blueberry onto the World Series broadcast
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at five NHL prospects on the outside looking in trying to make Canada's #WorldJuniors team:

- Malcolm Spence #NYR
- John Mustard #Blackhawks
- Terik Parascak #ALLCAPS
- Owen Protz #GoHabsGo
- Tarin Smith #FlyTogether

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/five-nh...
Five NHL prospects making a case to play for Canada’s World Junior team
Time is ticking down for those on the outside looking to make the roster ahead of next month's training camp.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Blue did this all herself
November 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
stevenpellis.ca
The 2026 #WorldJuniors could see various top five #NHLDraft prospects participate this year.

From McKenna to Stenberg, and a few more, I looked at eight potential first-round picks who could play big roles in Minnesota:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/which-n...
Which NHL Draft prospects could become stars at the 2026 World Juniors?
The top three projected picks in 2026 are expected to all play big roles this winter.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
stevenpellis.ca
The United States has a deep goaltending crop to choose from ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

So I broke down the best of the best:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/usa-oly...
Breaking down USA’s goaltending options for the 2026 Winter Olympics
Connor Hellebuyck is the easy option. Beyond that? That's where the debate begins.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Is a three-peat in the cards for USA at the #WorldJuniors?

Their lineup might not be as deep as last year, but they'll definitely be a contender.

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-wo...
2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting USA’s roster
A three-peat is difficult to come by, but the Americans won't want to let the home crowd down.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Steven Ellis
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at the NHL's top late-round steals per season since the 2020 #NHLDraft.

#LGRW's Emmitt Finnie and #CarolinaCulture's Jackson Blake lead the way:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/the-nhl...
The NHL’s top late-round steals since 2020
Development isn't linear – sometimes, you'll find late-round gems you never expected.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at the NHL's top late-round steals per season since the 2020 #NHLDraft.

#LGRW's Emmitt Finnie and #CarolinaCulture's Jackson Blake lead the way:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/the-nhl...
The NHL’s top late-round steals since 2020
Development isn't linear – sometimes, you'll find late-round gems you never expected.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at five #NHLDraft prospects who have risen up the ranks early this year.

- Alexander Command
- Joe Iginla
- Xavier Wendt
- Giorgos Pantelas
- Victor Plante

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nh...
2026 NHL Draft Notebook: Five early season risers
The sample sizes aren't small anymore, so these five deserve your attention.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Canada's #WorldJuniors training camp starts in just over a month.

I updated my roster projection – it's a strong group that could further benefit from players coming down from the NHL.

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-wo...
2026 World Junior Championship: Projecting Canada’s roster
Canada looks set to challenge for gold in Minnesota – but some key roster decisions remain.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Lines for Finland vs. Czechia, which is underway now. #U18 #NHLDraft
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Some pre-#WorldJuniors action between Finland and Slovakia.

Puck drop at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
November 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
stevenpellis.ca
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Time for the first Calder Trophy update of the 2025-26 season.

#Isles' Matthew Schaefer is at the top, but the #GoHabsGo have plenty of representation.

Finnie, Buium, Sennecke and more:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-26...
2025-26 Calder Trophy November Update: Matthew Schaefer takes early lead
The Calder race will change significantly as the season wears on, but these 10 made a great first impression.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
stevenpellis.ca
New NHL Prospect Roundup is out.

I looked at 10 early NCAA standouts:

Austin Burnevik
Charlie Cerrato
Adam Gajan
Max Plante
Michael Hage
Jack Ivankovic
Porter Martone
Will Horcoff
Eric Pohlkamp
Cole Hutson

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-pro...
NHL Prospect Roundup: 10 players dominating the NCAA
These 10 have stood out throughout the first month of the new era of college hockey.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Got my cat Blueberry onto the World Series broadcast
November 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
stevenpellis.ca
Braidy Wassilyn's name has been everywhere early on this season.

After his trade to the London Knights, look for the former GTHL star to challenge to become a first-round pick in the 2026 #NHLDraft.

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/braidy-...
Could trade to London thrust Braidy Wassilyn into first-round 2026 NHL Draft contention?
Once viewed as one of the top 2008-born prospects, Wassilyn has a perfect opportunity in London to really show what...
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:15 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Rumor is I like goalies. And I also might love international hockey.

So today, I projected each team's starting goalie for the 2026 men's Winter Olympic hockey tournament, taking place in just over 100 days.

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/project...
Projecting every team’s starting goalie for 2026 men’s Winter Olympic hockey tournament
A mix of rising young talent and established NHL stars will look to steal the crease in just over 100 days.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:44 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Macklin Celebrini is the NHL's next superstar.

After dominating the USHL and the NCAA, the San Jose Sharks forward has been lighting up the NHL.

He's one of the smartest players in the league, and the numbers look incredible now, too.

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/macklin...
Macklin Celebrini is the NHL’s next superstar
"He's the guy you want young kids coming up through minor hockey to emulate."
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Elvis Merzlikins is coming off a difficult season for the Blue Jackets, but he's been much, much better this year.

3-1-0 record.
.915 save percentage.
2.55 GSAx at 5-on-5 (11th in the NHL, per Evolving-Hockey).

Could be huge for Latvia at the Olympics if he stays hot. #CBJ
October 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at five NHL prospects shining bright in the AHL in today's Daily Faceoff Prospect Roundup:

- Nick Lardis
- Sergei Murashov
- Stephen Halliday
- Isak Rosen
- Isak Posch

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhl-pro...
NHL Prospect Roundup: Five AHLers shining bright early
From star prospects to notable risers, these five can't be ignored right now.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
stevenpellis.ca
The World Junior Championship pre-tournament schedule is out.
October 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Matthew Schaefer – he's good.

He's having a remarkable start to his NHL career – better than just about every 18-year-old defender in league history.

My story on what he's doing right:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-yor...
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer is living up to star billing – and so much more
The sample size might not be big, but Schaefer's early play is some of the best we've ever seen from a defenseman his age.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Kicking off my 2026 #NHLDraft Notebook series with @dailyfaceoff.bsky.social by looking at 10 CHL stars off to hot starts:

Chase Reid
JP Hurlbert
Xavier Villeneuve
Yegor Shilov
Nikita Klepov
Alexei Vlasov
Noah Kosick
Caleb Malhotra
Ethan Belchetz
Parker Snell

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nh...
2026 NHL Draft Notebook: 10 CHLers off to huge starts
Chase Reid, Ethan Belchetz and Xavier Villeneuve are among the top names you need to know early in the season.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
stevenpellis.ca
I looked at five NHLers off to big starts despite their teams suffering injuries to notable players.

Among them, Shane Pinto is red-hot right now:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/five-nh... #GoSensGo, #NHLJets, #SabreHood, #GoAvsGo #TimeToHunt
Five NHLers rescuing their teams from injury trouble early this season
From veterans to young guns getting the best opportunities of their lives, these five have kept the good times flowing this season.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
stevenpellis.ca
Spencer Knight is having the best start of his NHL career.

He had his ups and downs to get to this point, but he's proving right now what he's capable of with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He's one of the top goalies this season so far:

www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/spencer...
Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight was once a top NHL prospect – now, he’s living up to expectations
Knight boasts some of the top stats of any NHL goaltender early in the season, giving the Hawks a chance...
www.dailyfaceoff.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM