Emelin impresses

[Doc Holliday]

Emelin continues to impress Timmins and others. While the guy may not have the upside of a top pair dmen, he seems to be a sure shot #4/#5 defensive/robust dmen.

In French:


www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20061116/CPSPORTS01/611160875/1006/CPSPORTS01

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Beat me to it . Here it is in English:

Thursday Nov. 16, 2006

Emelin, the next Rivet?

Mathias Brunet

Trevor Timmins returned from Helsinki where he saw Alexei Emelin, one of the Canadiens most promising defense prospects, at work.

In spite of his mere 20 years, Emelin was on the Russian national team at the Karjala Cup, an annual international tournament involving Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Finland.

"He was youngest on his club but they trusted him in delicate defensive situations. He was used a lot on the penalty kill," the chief scout of the Canadiens confided yesterday. "They also put him on the ice with 20 seconds left in a 3-2 game."

Russia won all its games and Emelin finished the tournament with a differential of +3.

Emelin had caused much talk last year at the World Junior Championship by proving to be the pillar of his club on defense and deserving of a place on the tournament all-star team. He is especially known for his toughness.

This year he was given even more responsibilities on Togliatti, his Russian Elite League club, and was even deemed worthy of being an assistant captain.

With uncertainty surrounding the future of Sheldon Souray, Andrei Markov and Craig Rivet, Emelin could become a major component for the Habs in the near future. "The young man wants to come play in North America," said Timmins. "But it's first necessary that the NHL manage to reach an agreement with the Russian Federation, so that we can have him as of next year, because in theory he is still under contract with Togliatti for another season."

In a burst of enthusiasm last year, Vakourov, who is miserly with compliments, had dared to compare Emelin to Vladimir Konstantinov, an old Detroit Red Wings star. Timmins prefers to play it cautiously.

"I don't know if he will become a star, who knows how a player will develop, but for the moment, let's say that he could become a fourth defenseman for us, or perhaps a fifth."

Fourth or fifth Habs defenseman; he is a Bouillon or a Rivet, and perhaps even better if the he develops well. "Any time that a scout can unearth an NHL caliber defenseman in the third round (2004), he is blessed," said Timmins.

The Habs head of scouting likes the comparison with Vitaly Vishnevski of the Atlanta Thrashers, who plays between 15 and 20 minutes a game and who, year after year, is ranked in the NHL top ten for hits.

Could Emelin, 6 feet and 190 pounds, reach the NHL as of next year? "Physically, he would be ready," answers Timmins. "He must however learn the language and our system of play. In Russia the rinks are larger and the defensemen have more time to make their passes because they are less pressured by opposing forwards. But he will adapt more easily than others because he is very strong physically."

[habmeister]

is there a smiley icon for salivating?

[jkr]

I like that comparison to Konstantinov. Now there was a nasty piece of work.

[NWTHabsFan]

Wearing the "A" in the RSL at 20 years young...impressive! Named to your national team as its youngest player for the Karjala Cup...also impressive.

Hope to see him over here next season.