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Brian Elliott's All-Star journey from a Caribbean beach to the NHL's best-on-best in Columbus

Brian Elliott's All-Star journey from a Caribbean beach to the NHL's best-on-best in Columbus

COLUMBUS — Brian Elliott was in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday, soaking up the sun, snorkeling in the ocean, enjoying the All-Star break. Then he looked at his phone and saw a message from St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

He knew immediately what it was about. He knew Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had suffered an injury Wednesday night, and he had wondered whether the NHL would need an injury replacement for the All-Star Game.

''You might like the beach at the time, but 20 years later you don’t want to say no to something like this.'' (USA Today)
''You might like the beach at the time, but 20 years later you don’t want to say no to something like this.'' (USA Today)

Some would have ignored the call or come up with an excuse stay away. Not Elliott. Not his wife, Amanda.

“Well,” she said, “we’re going if that’s what it’s about.”

He called Armstrong and got the news. Yes, if he wanted, he could cut short his vacation, leave his posh resort and scramble to Columbus. He and his wife accepted the invitation, grabbed some champagne and went to the beach. They celebrated as the sun set.

They packed, had dinner and went to bed. They got up Friday morning, had breakfast and caught a cab. They flew from the Turks and Caicos to Miami, from Miami to St. Louis. They had all of two hours to go home, grab cold-weather clothes and get back to the airport.

“I didn’t have a suit,” Elliott said.

Just a bathing suit.

“If you want to come in board shorts,” Elliott said, “that’s fine.”

Finally, they flew from St. Louis to Columbus. They didn’t make it in time for the fantasy draft. But they made it. And they’ll never forget it.

“You might like the beach at the time,” Elliott said. “But 20 years later, looking back on everything, you don’t want to say no to something like this.”

* * * * *

Elliott has taken quite the journey. The Ottawa Senators drafted him in the ninth round, 291st overall, in 2003. He spent four years at the University of Wisconsin, winning an NCAA title. He spent a season in the minors, split a season between the minors and the NHL and finally spent two seasons with the Senators – until they traded him to the Colorado Avalanche. He struggled in a short stint with the Avs and signed a two-way contract with the Blues in 2011.

He wasn’t sure whether he would play in the minors or the NHL in 2011-12. But he started with the Blues, and he put up good numbers, and the next thing he knew, he made the All-Star Game, which happened to be hosted by the Senators – the team that had traded him a few months before. He came out in a Blues jersey for the skills competition, and he got a big ovation from the Ottawa fans.

“It went from a point where I didn’t even know if I was going to be in the NHL to in the All-Star Game,” he said. “Pavel Datsyuk comes over and asks if you can sign something for him. I was like, ‘This is quite the whirlwind within not even a full year’s time.’ ”

Elliott has worked his way back into the spotlight in St. Louis as the Blues' No. 1 goalie. (USA Today)
Elliott has worked his way back into the spotlight in St. Louis as the Blues' No. 1 goalie. (USA Today)

Elliott ended up setting the modern NHL records for goals-against average (1.56) and save percentage (.940) that season. But then came the 2012-13 lockout. He skated only informally, and he wasn’t sharp when he came back. Not only did he lose the starting job to Jaroslav Halak, he was a healthy scratch 11 times behind Halak and Jake Allen. He was even sent to the minors for two games on a conditioning stint. He finished the season with a 2.28 GAA and .907 save percentage.

He came back with a 1.96 and a .922 last season. But the Blues traded Halak in a package for Ryan Miller, and he ended up sitting behind Miller as the Blues fell in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s a tough situation,” he said. “When they traded for Millsy, I didn’t know if it was going to happen or not, but there was a lot of talk in the media about it. So when it happens, you just kind of process it, and you hope for the best. You still want to win that Stanley Cup. If he was going to help us do that, I’m all for it. He’s a great guy. I still talk to him.”

Elliott came back with an excellent start this season. But then he suffered a knee injury.

“When you finally get that label that you’ve been fighting for – No. 1 goalie – it was tough to take,” he said. “I was frustrated right away.”

It was uncertain how long Elliott would be out, and the Blues weren’t confident going with Allen and minor-leaguer Jordan Binnington. Armstrong came to Elliott and Allen to tell them he was interested in signing none other than Martin Brodeur, who was 42 years old and a free agent, but who was also the NHL’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts. Brodeur came in for a tryout and landed a contract.

Elliott said Armstrong made it clear that he and Allen would be the tandem when he came back, and Elliott said all the right things about Brodeur. “When you get a guy like him that’s been around the league that has those stories, those stats, those records, you just try to soak it in as much as possible,” he said.

Blues goaltending coach Jim Corsi said Elliott handled it “like a professional.”

Still …

“I think the Martin Brodeur thing really pushed him,” said teammate Kevin Shattenkirk. “He worked through his recovery and his rehab very strongly. He just had such a great attitude. When things don’t go well, he just works hard and knows that he’s going to pull himself out of it through that. …

“It could have pushed him the other way. ‘Well, they’re counting me out again.’ And I think the way he reacted to that is obviously the right way and a great way.”

While Elliott recovered, Brodeur struggled. When Elliott returned, Brodeur was benched and eventually scratched. Now Brodeur is on a leave of absence, contemplating his future, and Elliott is at the All-Star Game. He leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.86). He ranks fourth in save percentage (.930).

“No one works as hard as he,” Corsi said. “His work ethic is second to none. And it’s not just work. He has a curiosity for his work. His interest in the skill, his interest in the tactical stuff, his interest in the technical things … There are a number of things that he does and works at are really the reason why his game has blossomed more and more.”

* * * * *

The NHL held an optional skate Saturday morning. Few players participated. But Elliott was out on the ice, loosening up after all the travel. He didn’t wear his goalie gear. He wore a borrowed Blue Jackets warm-up suit with the Blue Jackets logos covered with blue tape, and he wore Shattenkirk’s helmet, though it was too small for his head.

Elliott was soaking it all up in his second All-Star Game appearance. (USA Today)
Elliott was soaking it all up in his second All-Star Game appearance. (USA Today)

“Need to get the legs going,” he said.

He walked into the dressing room and sat next to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury. His wife was in town. His dad was in town. His brother was in town. This was his second All-Star Game, and he wasn’t taking it for granted.

“This is just kind of a cherry on top a little bit,” he said. “This league is so hard to stay in, especially for goaltenders, so you always want to get better. You always want to play and be a rock for your team. This is just kind of a fun thing, an honor, a jersey you can hang on the wall and look at your career and have an extra smile.”

What does that Corona ad say? Find your beach?

“For him to leave the Caribbean now, he was happy to do it because I think he wants people to know that he deserves to be here,” Shattenkirk said. “And we believe that in St. Louis. We believe he’s a No. 1 goalie. We’re so happy for him and proud of him that his hard work is finally paying off and being recognized.”

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