• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Montreal Canadiens

Alexei Emelin Confident In Habs Playoffs Chances

By Alessandro Seren Rosso January 30th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

At his fifth season forthe Habs, Alexei Emelin is getting more and more important in the Canadiens lineup. In this translated interview, originally appearing on the popular Russian website sport-express.ru, Habs defenseman Alexei Emelin discussed Habs’ playoff chances, Andrei Markov and Evgeny Medvedev, and shared opinions on the World Cup and Winter Classic.

* For the original sport-express.ru article by Igor Rabiner, click here.

– Alexei, the season started very well for the Habs, but then your team couldn’t confirm this kind of results. The problem lies in Carey Price’s injury?

– I think that our defeats are caused not only by that reason. It’s easy to go out and say that we don’t have our main goalie. But we have to admit that we aren’t playing as well as during the first part of the season. There are many more reasons and we have to find them in ourselves.

– Do you think you’ll get to the playoffs?

– There are still many games to be played. We still have many chances to reach the playoffs.

– If the Habs won’t get to the playoffs, will you play with the National Team at the IIHF WC in Moscow?

– I’m always open for this. If they’ll call me, I’m going to play for the national team.

– Who is the toughest opposition this season?

– It’s very hard to play against the Capitals. They have a very good roster with three very dangerous lines. Not only because of Ovechkin, also Kuznetsov plays there a big role. He’s especially good on powerplays, he makes so many assists. I think his teammates are very happy to be playing with him.

– You always play an aggressive style, but from one hand it looks like your injuries got you playing with more accuracy. But on the other hand you’re always in the first places in the hits stats. 

– I haven’t changed my style. Simply this season I had some small injuries and I couldn’t play at my 100%. But the Habs picked me because they wanted me playing that way. Why should I change the way I play if the team wants so?

http://gty.im/471427980

– Do you play as hard against Russians too? Or if you notice that you’re hitting a player you personally know you’re going to hit less hard?

– There are no friends on the rink. I don’t act differently when I’m going to hit someone.

– Who is your best [Russian] friend in the NHL?

– Evgeny Medvedev. I know them all, but I’m constantly in touch with him.

– Wasn’t it a shock to have him moving overseas when aged 33?

– I wouldn’t say so. His goal was to get here when were still playing for Ak Bars Kazan together. Yes, he’s 33, but if he’s here, that means that he really wanted to.

– You live in Montreal for five years already. Did you get used to the city?

– Yes, I am used to Montreal now. I’ve got my family here, my kids go to school. All is good here. My daughters are engaged in figure skating. They see that I skate, and they want to do the same. The older one also plays tennis, but for now it’s just for her general development. Then we’ll see.

– At the start of your NHL career you were playing with Andrei Markov, but then you were split in different pairings. Is there a teammate with whom it’s easier to play?

– I don’t play with Markov for a long time already, since when they got me playing on the left. When I just got here I was playing on the right with Markov. It was easier to me, but then the coach got me playing on the left so that we had players with a different stick-side in each pairing. But generally speaking it’s the same to me, we still have the same game plan and the same goals.

– Markov plays for Montreal for 15 years already. No other Russian player lasted that long in the same team. What is his role in the locker room?

– Playing for 15 years in Montreal is a huge achievement. Everyone knows him here. Within the team he is, let’s say, the quiet leader. He doesn’t talk loud, but he’s very influent in the locker room.

– What are your impressions from the recent Winter Classic? Your team won 5-1 and you had an assist.

http://gty.im/503100062

– It was my first time, and I liked it a lot. A big stadium, a great weather, excellent organization and 70.000 fans on the stands. We had a heated bench, therefore I can’t say we were freezing there. The weather wasn’t extreme either.

– Do you talk about the World Cup within the team?  The Canadiens have many players who can get there, Markov, Price, Subban, Galchenyuk, Plekanec.

– No, we haven’t talked about it within the team. So far I can’t say that for me this tournament is as meaningful as the Olympics, because I never participated in it. But of course, I’m waiting for it and I want to play. I’ll work hard to get in.

RELATED: An Interview With Habs Defenseman Alexei Emelin

Subscribe to my email newsletter to receive updates about my articles. Thank you!



  • Tags
  • Alexei Emelin
  • Andrei Markov
  • Evgeny Medvedev
  • Russia
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 5:55 PM
Edmonton Oilers

McDavid Has the Maple Leafs’ Number and Needs to Keep it That Way

Jan 21st 5:08 PM
Archives

NHLers by Country: On Top of Their Game and the World

Jan 21st 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Missing Klefbom and Neal on Power Play

Jan 21st 4:40 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Soucy & Sturm Look Comfortable Filling Roster Gaps

Jan 21st 4:30 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche With Career Milestones in Sight in 2020-21 Season

Jan 21st 3:45 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning & Pat Maroon Are a Really Good Fit…For Now

Jan 21st 3:35 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Depth Separates Them From the Rest

Jan 21st 3:15 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Alexandre Texier, New Faces Shine to Begin Season

Jan 21st 2:45 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Neal, Yamamoto, Tippett, More

Jan 21st 2:15 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Stützle, Norris, Galchenyuk and More

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information