Nashville’s Ellis out six months

Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis, from Freelton, Ont., will need a full six months to recover from off-season knee surgery, says general manager David Poile.

Poile gave an update on injuries Thursday to Ellis and new centre Nick Bonino after a rookies’ practice. Both were hurt during the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup final that Nashville lost in six games to Pittsburgh. Bonino was playing for the Penguins.

The original timetable called for a recovery of four to six months. Poile said the Predators and doctors feel Ellis will need the full six months to recover.

“Ryan is not skating yet, probably will be skating in approximately another three weeks and the recovery will go from there,” Poile said. “We don’t expect him back until at the end of the year, maybe the new year, maybe right around Christmas time.”

The five-foot-10 Ellis scored 38 points in 71 games last season, but he was even better during the playoffs. Ellis tied Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen for third among the Predators with 13 points.

The defenceman even played despite being hurt in the decisive Game 6 before having surgery. His recovery is why the Predators traded with the new Vegas Golden Knights to acquire defenceman Alexei Emelin.

The general manager says Bonino, who broke a foot in the final, will not be playing in any pre-season games. The Predators signed Bonino away from Pittsburgh with a four-year, $16.4-million deal in July.