After years of courting and speculation, the Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have finally signed defenceman Alexei Emelin to a one-year, two-way contract worth $984,200; there are no performance bonuses in the contract. The deal also allows him to return to the KHL if the Habs want to send him down.
The imposing blueliner had his best offensive campaign this year, posting 27 points in 52 games with the Kazan Ak Bars of the Kontinental Hockey League. He also played in this year’s World Hockey Championships in Slovakia, where he finished third overall with 29 penalty minutes while playing just under 12 minutes per game.
In six complete seasons in the KHL/RSL, the 6’2 defenceman has put up 59 points (20-39) along with 553 penalty minutes in 292 games. Emelin also has extensive international experience, namely playing in the 2010 and 2007 World Hockey Championships and the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Louis Moustakas is an editor at HabsWorld.net and works for the Coaching Association of Canada in Ottawa. He can be reached at l.moustakas@habsworld.net.