Alexei Melnichuk
Alexei Andreyvich Melnichuk (Russian: Алексей Андреевич Мельничук; born 29 June 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL as a prospect to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL).
| Alexei Melnichuk | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
29 June 1998 Saint Petersburg, Russia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Tampa Bay Lightning Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) SKA Saint Petersburg Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod San Jose Sharks | ||
| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Playing career
Melnichuk played professionally in his native Russia, with SKA Saint Petersburg and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before signing as an undrafted free agent to an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks in May 2020.[1]
During his maiden North American season in the 2020–21 campaign, he made his NHL debut with the Sharks appearing in relief on 11 February 2021, in a 6–2 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings.[2] He was handed his first start on 8 May 2021, in a 4–5 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes.[3]
In the following 2021–22 season, Melnichuk continued in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda. As the starting goaltender, Melnichuk collected 10 wins through 31 regular season games. At the NHL trade deadline, Melnichuk was dealt by the Sharks to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Antoine Morand on 21 March 2022.[4] He was immediately re-assigned to the Lightning's ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears.[5]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2015–16 | SKA-Varyagi | MHLB | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 545 | 24 | 0 | 2.64 | .891 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 15 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 642 | 24 | 1 | 2.24 | .915 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 158 | 8 | 0 | 3.04 | .892 | ||
| 2016–17 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1035 | 39 | 2 | 2.26 | .924 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 2.92 | .889 | ||
| 2016–17 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1029 | 28 | 5 | 1.63 | .932 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 7 | 0 | 2.34 | .873 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 5.30 | .778 | ||
| 2017–18 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 19 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1076 | 30 | 4 | 1.67 | .934 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 389 | 12 | 0 | 1.85 | .937 | ||
| 2017–18 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 2.68 | .900 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 30 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 1697 | 49 | 2 | 1.73 | .924 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 547 | 10 | 3 | 1.10 | .963 | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 119 | 3 | 0 | 1.51 | .938 | ||
| 2019–20 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 16 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 892 | 25 | 4 | 1.68 | .930 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 461 | 15 | 2 | 1.95 | .925 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 556 | 20 | 2 | 2.16 | .937 | ||
| 2020–21 | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 851 | 38 | 0 | 2.68 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | San Jose Barracuda | AHL | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1003 | 58 | 0 | 3.47 | .868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 131 | 11 | 0 | 5.05 | .864 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | San Jose Barracuda | AHL | 31 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1651 | 108 | 0 | 3.92 | .867 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| KHL totals | 32 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1,810 | 66 | 4 | 2.19 | .920 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 131 | 11 | 0 | 5.05 | .864 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
References
- "Sharks Sign Goaltender Alexei Melnichuk". National Hockey League. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- "Kings score six, defeat Sharks to split two-game set, end slide". National Hockey League. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- "Kessel wins it in OT in 900th consecutive NHL game, Coyotes top Sharks". National Hockey League. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- "Lightning acquire goalie Alexei Melnichuk from Sharks for Antoine Morand". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- Tampa Bay Lightning (22 March 2022). "Melnichuk will report to Orlando". Twitter. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database