Blues' Elliott looking forward to the challenge of being No. 1 goaltender
With Jaroslav Halak and Ryan Miller out of the way, Brian Elliott is finally ready to assume his role as the undisputed No. 1 goaltender for the St. Louis Blues, but he doesn't see it as a big change.
“I don’t think it’s that much different than the past three years,” Elliott told the team's official website on Thursday. “I’ve always trained to be the No. 1 guy. You’re selling yourself short if you don’t. There’s a big opportunity for me right now and I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think we’re going to be a really good team and I want to be a big part of that.”
Elliott, 29, signed a three-year, $7.5-million contract in the offseason after posting 55 wins in 93 starts with St. Louis over three seasons. His .927 save percentage in those starts is well above his career mark of .911.
“It’s nice to get the contract done early in the summer,” Elliott said. “It was good to have that confidence shown by management and the coaching staff that they wanted me back.”
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock says Elliott has earned the job after playing second fiddle to Halak and Miller.
“This is the first time Brian gets to carry the ball for a little awhile and I think you’re going to see Brian play better because he knows he’s going to be really counted on now,” Hitchcock said. “I look at Brian as No. 1.”
Jake Allen, 24, will back up Elliott.