Alexei Yemelin may sign for Montreal Canadiens

Ak Bars Kazan and Russian national team defender Alexei Yemelin may sign a contract with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens in the nearest future, according to Canoe.ca.

The Habs general manager Pierre Gaultier is expected to arrive in Slovakia tomorrow, where he plans to watch the 25-year-old player in Russia’s game against Canada in 2011 World Championship quarterfinal. The conditions of the NHL’s Collective Bargainin Agreement sitpulate that the term of contract for players aged 25 as of July 1 of the current year may not exceed one year.

According to the aforementioned source, Yemelin’s contract may include a provision allowing him to return to the KHL without any restrictions in case he fails to secure a regular place in the Canadiens’ team.

It’s worth noting that Montreal have already picked Yemelin in the third round of 2004 NHL draft as number 84.