He's pounding slapshots into the back of the net, and opposing forwards into the ice.

Eleven games into his National Hockey League career, Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis has wasted little time in showing big-league fans what he's all about.

The same elements that made him a star with the Windsor Spitfires, that brought fans at the WFCU Centre out of their seats with regularity, are quickly emerging as Ellis grows rapidly into his stature as an NHLer.

"A little bit more comes out each game," said Ellis, who has 2-3-5 totals and a plus-four rating since his Dec. 26 recall from the AHL Milwaukee Admirals.

"You kind of realize what kind of player each guy is out there, and you just go out and play your game.

"The more you can play your game, the easier it gets for you."

And the tougher it gets for the other team.

His first goal arrived in patented Ellis fashion.

On a Nashville power play, the fellow who scored 40 times with the man advantage during his four seasons in Windsor wired a slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle past Carolina Hurricanes netminder Justin Peters.

Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock predicted that Ellis would blossom into a dominant NHL power-play performer.

"He is as good as there is in hockey on the power play," Babcock said.

"It was great hearing that from a person with such high class," Ellis, 21, said of Babcock's statement.

"It was just unbelievable for him to say that, very exciting."

The five-foot-10, 179-pound defender answered naysayers who figured he was too small to make the grade the same way he responded to the questioners in junior.

Just ask Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds if he thinks Ellis will struggle with the NHL grind.

Ellis sent the Flyers' forward tumbling head over heels with a devastating bodycheck that made all the highlight reels from coast to coast.

"It's been a lot of fun so far," Ellis said.

"It was a bit of an adjustment at first, but all the guys are really good to me, and help me out on and off the ice.

"I'm a little more comfortable each game, and I think the experience gained with each game is important going forward."

Clearly, the Predators like what they've seen.

Ellis was called up when captain Shea Weber suffered an injury, but when Weber regained his health, Ellis maintained his place on the roster, and Jonathan Blum, like Ellis a former Predators' first-round draft pick, was dispatched to Milwaukee.

The most decorated player in Spitfires history - Ellis won two Memorial Cups and world junior and under-18 titles and is the reigning CHL player of the year - has adapted and advanced quickly along the NHL learning curve.

"That's exactly what it is," Ellis said.

"The first few games, you just want to make the right pass, make the right play, and try to be part of it.

"As you go on, you try to showcase more of what you bring to the table. The game allows you to grow more comfortable."

With each passing day, the likelihood of Ellis making that trek back to the minor leagues appears more remote, especially considering Nashville has won nine games since recalling him and are closing in on the Central Division leaders.

"We've enjoyed a little bit of a winning run," Ellis said.

"I just hope I can still be part of the success we're having in Nashville."

Based on the early returns, it doesn't look like Ellis is going anywhere except onward to a lengthy, productive NHL career.