Alexei Emelin

 ( 1986 Births ) 

Alexei Vyacheslavovich Emelin (Russian: Алексей Вячеславович Емелин; born 25 April 1986) is a Russians professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Dubai Red Stars of the Emirates Ice Hockey League. 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.

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Playing career

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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.

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Montreal Canadiens On 17 May 2011, Emelin signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2011–12 season. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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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. 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. Emelin skated in 76 games with the Predators in his lone season with the club, as well as 10 postseason games.

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

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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 club, HC Dinamo Minsk, on 26 July 2022. 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.

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Dubai Red Stars On October 8, 2025, it was reported that Emelin had signed a one-year contract with the Dubai Red Stars of the Emirates Hockey League following a 2 1/2 year hiatus from the sport.

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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	—	—	—	—	—

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International

2004	Russia	WJC18		6	0	0	0	10
2005	Russia	WJC		6	1	0	1	8
2006	Russia	WJC		6	2	5	7	39
2007	Russia	WC		9	1	2	3	6
2010	Russia	WC		9	1	1	2	33
2011	Russia	WC	4th	9	0	0	0	29
2012	Russia	WC		9	2	2	4	4
2014	Russia	OG	5th	5	0	0	0	8
2016	Russia	WC		10	0	1	1	25
2016	Russia	WCH	4th	4	0	1	1	0

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Awards and honors

KHL
Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan)	2009, 2010
All-Star Game	2013
Gagarin Cup (Avangard Omsk)	2021

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External links

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