Ryan Ellis' lower-body injury appeared to have healed. But an apparent reinjury (speculated as being in the hip or groin area) is believed to have happened in the road game against the Dallas Stars. So, his status is week-to-week for now.
Hopefully, this is not becoming a chronic issue, as Ellis was the key off-season defensive addition. His absence from the Philadelphia Flyers d-core is noticeable, as the reworked regular-strength pairings do not flow nearly as smoothly. Ellis' absence from special teams also weakens those units.
Philadelphia has a good .615 winning percentage through its first 13 games (7-4-2). It is clear that far more consistent goal-tending, as compared to last season, has allowed the squad to stay in most games.
Ellis' consistent presence is needed for this team to win consistently. Otherwise, a young defenseman, who is not on the current NHL roster, would need to make a dramatic impact, or an impact veteran replacement would need to be acquired at some point, with Cap issues affecting trade considerations.
