 Ellis made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on December 18, 2006, in a 4–3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.Nearly two years later, on February 21, 2008, Ellis was claimed off of waivers by the Los Angeles Kings.He scored his first goal with the Kings, an empty-netter, on March 13, against the Nashville Predators at Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee.