Alexei Emelin

Alexei Emelin
Emelin with the Montreal Canadiens in 2015
Born (1986-04-25) 25 April 1986 (age 38)
Tolyatti, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Free agent
Lada Togliatti
Ak Bars Kazan
Montreal Canadiens
Nashville Predators
Avangard Omsk
Dinamo Minsk
Spartak Moscow
National team  Russia
NHL draft 84th overall, 2004
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2003–present

Alexei Vyacheslavovich Emelin (Russian: Алексей Вячеславович Емелин; born 25 April 1986) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He was selected in the third round, 84th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Emelin has also previously played for the Nashville Predators.

Playing career

Early career

Emelin spent a large portion of his career with Lada Togliatti in the Russian Superleague (RSL) before signing with Ak Bars Kazan. He was also a member of Russia's under-18 and under-20 national squads, and has also become a regular member of the senior national team, skating for both in EuroTour and the World Championships.

In a Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) game in 2009, Emelin sustained a face injury during a fight with Alexander Svitov; an orbital bone shattered and had to be rebuilt with metal plate. He has tried to avoid getting into fights ever since the incident.[1][2]

Emelin playing for Russia in 2011

Montreal Canadiens

On 17 May 2011, Emelin signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2011–12 season.[3] He played his first regular season NHL game on 9 October, in a 5–1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets. In addition, he scored his first regular season NHL point, an assist, on 6 December, in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. On 25 January 2012, he scored his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings.

On 30 June 2012, Emelin signed a two-year extension up until the end of the 2013–14 season.[4]

Emelin with the Montreal Canadiens in 2012

During the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Emelin established himself as a key member of the Canadiens' defensive core, often playing with fellow countryman Andrei Markov.[5] He scored three goals and 12 points in 38 games for the Canadiens and finished with a plus-minus rating of +2. His season, however, was derailed by an injury during a game against the Boston Bruins on 6 April 2013, when Emelin collided with Bruins forward Milan Lucic, falling awkwardly and tearing a ligament in his left knee.[6] As a result, Emelin missed the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. On 31 October 2013, he signed a four-year contract extension with Montreal, lasting through the 2017–18 season.

Nashville Predators

After his sixth season with the Canadiens, Emelin was left exposed at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on 21 June 2017.[7] On 1 July 2017, the Golden Knights traded Emelin to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Vegas retained approximately $1.2 million USD of Emelin's salary in the trade.[8] Emelin skated in 76 games with the Predators in his lone season with the club, as well as 10 postseason games.

Avangard Omsk

On 2 September 2018, Emelin returned as a free agent to the KHL, signing a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk.[9]

Dinamo Minsk and Spartak Moscow

After four seasons with Avangard Omsk, Emelin left as a free agent and extended his career in the KHL after signing a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk, on 26 July 2022.[10] Selected as team captain for Dinamo Minsk in the lead up to the 2022–23 season, Emelin as a regular on the blueline made 38 appearances and registered 9 assists.

On 19 December 2022, Emelin left Dinamo and transferred to HC Spartak Moscow for the remainder of the season.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Lada–2 Togliatti RUS.3 31 1 1 2 20 — — — — —
2003–04 Lada–2 Togliatti RUS.3 2 0 0 0 10 — — — — —
2003–04 CSK VVS Samara RUS.2 53 2 4 6 198 1 0 0 0 18
2004–05 Lada Togliatti RSL 12 0 1 1 24 2 0 0 0 2
2004–05 Lada–2 Togliatti RUS.3 11 3 2 5 14 — — — — —
2005–06 Lada Togliatti RSL 44 6 6 12 131 6 0 1 1 47
2006–07 Lada Togliatti RSL 43 2 5 7 74 3 0 0 0 4
2007–08 Ak Bars Kazan RSL 56 0 5 5 123 10 0 1 1 10
2008–09 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 51 0 3 3 58 7 1 0 1 10
2009–10 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 46 1 6 7 50 22 5 8 13 24
2010–11 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 52 11 15 26 117 9 0 0 0 4
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 67 3 4 7 30 — — — — —
2012–13 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 24 2 7 9 40 — — — — —
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 38 3 9 12 33 — — — — —
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 59 3 14 17 59 15 0 2 2 4
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 68 3 11 14 59 12 0 2 2 10
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 72 0 12 12 71 — — — — —
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 76 2 8 10 71 2 1 0 1 2
2017–18 Nashville Predators NHL 76 1 8 9 40 10 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Avangard Omsk KHL 48 5 14 19 20 19 1 4 5 20
2019–20 Avangard Omsk KHL 16 0 1 1 51 6 2 1 3 6
2020–21 Avangard Omsk KHL 59 6 15 21 73 12 1 2 3 4
2021–22 Avangard Omsk KHL 43 2 6 8 35 13 2 3 5 6
2022–23 Dinamo Minsk KHL 38 0 9 9 22 — — — — —
2022–23 Spartak Moscow KHL 21 0 3 3 6 — — — — —
RSL totals 155 8 17 25 352 21 0 2 2 63
KHL totals 398 27 80 107 447 88 12 18 30 74
NHL totals 456 15 66 81 363 39 1 4 5 16

International

Medal record
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Finland/Sweden
Silver medal – second place 2010 Germany
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Russia
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 United States
Silver medal – second place 2006 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Belarus
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Russia WJC18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 0 0 0 10
2005 Russia WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 1 0 1 8
2006 Russia WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 2 5 7 39
2007 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 9 1 2 3 6
2010 Russia WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 9 1 1 2 33
2011 Russia WC 4th 9 0 0 0 29
2012 Russia WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 9 2 2 4 4
2014 Russia OG 5th 5 0 0 0 8
2016 Russia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 0 1 1 25
2016 Russia WCH 4th 4 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 18 3 5 8 57
Senior totals 44 4 7 11 105

Awards and honors

Award Year
KHL
Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan) 2009, 2010
All-Star Game 2013
Gagarin Cup (Avangard Omsk) 2021 [12]

References

  1. ^ "Emelin the Canadiens' mystery man". Montreal Gazette. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Lightning's Ryan Malone on attacking Habs' Emelin: "It's not old school hockey, it's pretty much hockey"". Tampa Bay Times. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Canadiens sign Emelin to a one-year contract". Montreal Canadiens. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Habs ink Alexei Emelin to a 2-year deal". Montreal Canadiens. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Canadiens v Rangers: No changes to defense pairings". habseyesontheprize.com. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Canadiens lose Emelin for season to knee injury". National Hockey League. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Canadiens lose Alexei Emelin to Las Vegas in NHL Expansion Draft". Montreal Gazette. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Predators acquire defenseman Alexei Emelin from Golden Knights". The Tennessean. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Защитник Алексей Емелин - в "Авангарде"!". www.hawk.ru (in Russian). 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. ^ Kontinental Hockey League (26 July 2022). "Alexei Emelin continues career in Minsk". Twitter. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Alexei Emelin will continue his career with Spartak" (in Russian). HC Spartak Moscow. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Avangard is crowned 2021 Gagarin Cup Champions" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.