Colten
Ellis
G · BUF · Below average
- PAL
- 36
- WAR
- 0.8
- Value
- 43
- SV%
- .903
2025-26№ 38 / 98
Colten Ellis (Buffalo Sabres) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Colten Ellis
#92G
Buffalo Sabres
HEIGHT : 185 cm · WEIGHT : 88 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : October 4, 2000 · Whycocomagh, Canada
Drafted : 2019 · STL · round 3, pick #93
Contract : $775,000 · 2025-26 → 2026-27 · Two-Way Contract (Extension) · RFA (Arb)
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Buffalo Sabres | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3.09 | .884 | 1 |
| 2025-26 | Buffalo Sabres | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2.90 | .903 | 1 |
| NHL totals | 23 | 11 | 7 | 2.95 | .898 | 2 | |
Colten Ellis: our analysis
2025-26 season: 16 GP, 8 W, 4 L, .903 SV%, 2.90 GAA, 1 SO. WAR 0.8 (38th of 98) · PAL 36, below average.
Colten Ellis is in his first season in the league. In 2025-26, He posts a PAL Rating of 36 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of 0.8 ranks 38th among 98 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: consistency (78, well above average). On the other hand, workload (1, among the weakest in the league) and high danger (34, below average) hold him back.
GSAx: +1.6 (goals saved above expected).
Contract-wise, his Value score of 43 (poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Colten Ellis's story
Growing up in River Denys, Nova Scotia, Ellis made his mark early in Atlantic youth hockey and played a pivotal role for the Cape Breton West Islanders in their historic 2017 Telus Cup run. That success established his reputation as an agile, responsive netminder and launched his path into major junior hockey in the QMJHL.
Taken in the QMJHL draft by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Ellis moved through the league’s ranks with stints in Rimouski and later Charlottetown. He assumed starting duties in Rimouski as a rookie, earned defensive rookie honours and a spot on the all‑rookie team, and was invited to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game before being selected 93rd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Ellis’s final seasons in the QMJHL produced record-breaking numbers: he tied the career shutout total, set the single‑season low for goals‑against average in the league, and posted the fourth‑best single‑season save percentage in QMJHL history. Those achievements earned him the Jacques Plante Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and a place on the first all‑star team, after which he signed his entry‑level contract with St. Louis in 2021.
Turning pro, Ellis split time between the ECHL (Worcester, Tulsa, Orlando) and the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. His early professional years included strong outings, a mid‑career hip surgery and a concussion that interrupted progress, but also a period of technical reassessment that led to improved statistics and an eventual starting role in Springfield. He signed multiple contract extensions with the Blues organization and was later placed on waivers.
Claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres, Ellis made his NHL debut on October 22, 2025, a 4–2 win in which he stopped 27 of 29 shots, becoming the first goaltender from Cape Breton Island to play in the NHL. Internationally, he has worn Canada’s colours. On the ice, his game is defined by athleticism and quickness—reactive movement and reflex saves are the core of how he controls the crease.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 7
- Shots against
- 173
- Saves
- 153
- %ARR / SV%
- 88.4 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
0.8
wins above replacement
38 of 98
PAL Rating
36/ 100
Performance · Below average
45 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
43/ 100
Poor return
0.78 M$ · expected PAL 44
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 58
- Impact
- 56
- High danger
- 34
- Consistency
- 78
- Workload
- 1
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.8
wins above replacement
-0.4 to 2.5 — 90% interval
38 of 98 goalies
+4.4 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- +1.6
- Average → replacement
- +2.9
In goals.
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .89160th percentileleague avg. .890
- High-danger save %
- .77130th percentileleague avg. .804
- Games above .900
- 33.3 %23rd percentileleague avg. 45.8 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 2.9240th percentileleague avg. 3.07
- Goal differential per 60
- 0.0052nd percentileleague avg. 0.07
Save % by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
VGK
OTT
ANA
SJS
FLA
UTA
MINColten Ellis: frequently asked questions
What is Colten Ellis's record in 2026-27?
Colten Ellis has 3 wins in 7 games in 2026-27, with a .884 save percentage and a 3.09 goals-against average.
How old is Colten Ellis?
Colten Ellis is 26 years old: he was born on October 5, 2000.
How tall is Colten Ellis, and how much does he weigh?
Colten Ellis is 6'1" (185 cm) and weighs 194 lb (88 kg).
Where is Colten Ellis from?
Canada: Colten Ellis was born in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia, Canada.
What team does Colten Ellis play for?
Colten Ellis plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, at G, wearing number 92.
Is Colten Ellis injured?
No: Colten Ellis is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Colten Ellis?
Colten Ellis produced 0.8 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 38th of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 36 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Colten Ellis make?
Colten Ellis earns $775K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 43 out of 100 (poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Colten Ellis's contract end?
Colten Ellis's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be a restricted free agent.
Is Colten Ellis overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 43 out of 100 (poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Colten Ellis a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 38th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
What are Colten Ellis's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Colten Ellis has 23 games, 11 wins and 2 shutouts. His best season: 2025-26, with 8 wins.
Where was Colten Ellis drafted?
Colten Ellis was drafted 93rd overall (round 3) by St. Louis Blues in 2019.
How does Colten Ellis perform in the playoffs?
Colten Ellis has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Is Colten Ellis related to anyone famous?
Yes: Chase (cousin, played with him in the QMJHL).
What is Colten Ellis's nationality?
Colten Ellis is Canadian. Internationally: represented the Canada national team; played at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship (lost in the quarterfinals) and at the 2024 Spengler Cup (lost in the semifinals).
What awards has Colten Ellis won?
Raymond Lagacé Trophy (defensive rookie of the year, 2017–18) ; QMJHL All‑Rookie Team (2017–18) ; Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy (QMJHL best goaltender, 2020–21) ; QMJHL First All‑Star Team (2020–21) ; Player of the Week (QMJHL, 22 March 2021) ; ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December 2023) ; ECHL Goaltender of the Week (week ending 23 December 2023) ; AHL Player of the Week (week ending 9 March 2025).
How many championships has Colten Ellis won?
1: Telus Cup 2017 with the Cape Breton West Islanders (first team from the province to win the cup).
Where did Colten Ellis play before turning pro?
Nova Junior X‑Men (Nova Scotia U15 Major) 2013–14 and 2014–15; Cape Breton West Islanders (Nova Scotia U18 Major) 2015–16 and 2016–17; drafted by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) in 2016, called up in 2016–17; Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) 2017–19; Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) 2019–21.
See also: his Buffalo Sabres teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)