Alexei Emelin

[Andy]

Emelin looked good on the PP last night, has good vision, strong passes and a powerful shot. Of course, he's no Francis Bouillon

As for his skating he's just a few months back from a major reconstructive surgery maybe he's still holding back a bit, playing at 80% speed and mobility to ease his knee back into top condition? I hope that's the case.

True, he did look good on the pp!

 

[Smokey Thompson]

Emelin showed what he is made of last night vs the Bruins. Great performance at both ends of the ice.

It's safe to say he's had a pretty disappointing season, but he has been putting up good performances with greater frequency of late. Really hoping this is the Emelin that'll show up in the playoffs.

 

[hogtownhabsfan*]

I've been very critical of Emelin, but he's been much better the last two games, the two biggest games of the season thus far. Hopefully this is the real Emelin.

Emelin, Galchenyuk, Gionta, Bourque....

These guys have all had rough years, but they all seem to be picking it up just in time for the playoffs (hopefully)

 

[Andy]

Emelin will be a good defenseman when/if he finds consistency in his game. Played fantastic last night.

He's been too black and white this season.

 

[FF de Mars]

If Yemelin the Yeti is a roasted chicken, Lucic is a beef soup !

 

[Markowicz]

I've been saying it since he arrived in Montreal, that he deserves a real shot on the PP. I really don't know why its taken this long for him to get a chance out there. Especially this year, when it seems like we've had no one who's scored from a point shot on the the PP. I mean seriously, PK has 4. Markov has 2. These guys aren't doing such a fantastic job that they need to be out there for the full 2 minutes.

Emelin's shot is dangerous enough to open up space down-low for our forwards to create. And he's got the skills to keep a play alive, and make good passes. Sure he's not as good as passer as Markov, or has as a hard a shot as Subban. But he's a heck of a lot more useful then any other D we currently have on the roster, and should be used as a lot more often on the PP.

 

[hardcorehabs]

Put him with Subban.

Emelin-Subban
Markov-Tinordi
Murray-Weaver

 

[LastChancePrice]

Wondering who is the chicken. The chicken who deliver a great unexpected bodycheck, or the chicken who hit in the groin from behind a player. Didnt tough Lucic was such a cry baby.

 

[That Habs Fan]

Put him with Subban.

Emelin-Subban
Markov-Tinordi
Murray-Weaver

This. Very very much this.

The veteran Markov is used to covering for rookie mistakes, and Tinordi could play the same role Komisarek used to (granted with slightly less of an edge and better skating). Murray-Weaver is a decent bottom pair.

 

[RC51]

Emelin hits Lucic with a great " legal check" and then as I warned everyone yesterday Chara would try something and what did we all see.
Chara went after Emelin with a check and then a hit to the head with his stick. All this from a player that told the NHL he was NOT a bad player two years ago, remember that... I also told you Lucic would try to hurt someone and sure enough, a clear stick right to Emelins (well you know just where).

 

[Wats]

2 hits, in gif...one cheap.

 

[JuicyHam]

Can emelin speak English well?

 

[habtastic]

One of Emelin's best games. Reminds me of the original version.

It wasn't just the hit, or his many hits. It was his willingness to pay the price to make the plays and stand up to the bruins. He was solid defensively too. Oh and that goal.

Maybe he needs games where he is made a target. Very much like Subban!

Best part - he's clean and he doesn't cry like a ***** cuz he was on the wrong side of a rock em sock em clip. (well, the clean versions...if there are any)

 

[Picaroon]

Also, note which side of the ice that hit came on... hmmm. A little bit of a trend developing. I don't know if it's Therrien or Emelin's idea to play on the right side, but he is clearly waaaay more effective on the left.

 

[Rosso Scuderia]

What I like about Emelin is that his shot/one-timer always hit the net. It might not be super powerful but it almost always create a good scoring chance.

 

[Tuggy]

He's playing much better lately and has looked like the Emelin of last season before his injury.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

What I like about Emelin is that his shot/one-timer always hit the net. It might not be super powerful but it almost always create a good scoring chance.

This. and how many games did he watch Boullion and Gorges on the PP? Too ****ing many

 

[boompuffboom]

OG Emie has been playing terrific since the olympics.

 

[That Habs Fan]

let's hope he keeps it up and his struggles early in the season were just rust related

 

[hototogisu]

I ragged on him pretty hard since he came back from his injury but he's definitely looking a lot better now, which is reassuring. Hopefully he can keep improving.

 

[Jigger77]

let's hope he keeps it up and his struggles early in the season were just rust related

When he came back from knee injury Ray Ferraro said give him a year. It takes a long time to come back and feel right from that kind of injury. If Emelin can even retain 80-90% of where he was before the injury it's excellent news for the Habs. The team never quite looked the same since he went down and now that he's back to playing well you see what happens. He set the tone in the Boston game with that hit.

 

[Uber Coca]

He has elevated his play against the Bruins and it's a great sign of character. As funny as it seems, the ''character'' Bergevin has been looking for will pay off in the playoffs. Emelin, Murray, Weaver, Tinordi and Gorges are all defenders willing to take hits, blocks shots and throw their body for the team and more often than not play a steady game. This is certainly what you're looking for in the playoffs.

Other team's forwards will have to keep their head up.

 

[Hackett]

I ragged on him pretty hard since he came back from his injury but he's definitely looking a lot better now, which is reassuring. Hopefully he can keep improving.

We should be confident now that with a full training camp under his belt, he should be the emelin of old next year. I don't think he will quite hit his form this year, but good to see him getting better.

 

[Playmaker09]

He's been much better of late.

3g 4a 7pts +7 in his last 22 games. Regularly playing 20+ minutes a night too.

 

[TRG]

The Reconstructed Russian Knees pairing looked much more physical in these past games. Yes, even Markov.

Emelin has a decent wrister from the blue line. He definitely should have some more PP time.