MONTREAL

Emelin a Golden Knight; Price loses out on Vezina

CTV Montreal Published Wednesday, June 21, 2017 9:55PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, June 21, 2017 11:00PM EDT

Montreal Canadiens' Alexei Emelin (74) checks Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby into the boards during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, March 2, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Graham Hughes.

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The first ever lineup of the Las Vegas Golden Knights will include Alexei Emelin, as the defenceman was picked by the new team in the expansion draft on Wednesday night.

The left-handed Russia native was picked by the Habs with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 draft. He made his debut with the club in the 2011-12 season.

In 380 NHL regular season games, Emelin posted 14 goals and 58 assists along with 323 penalty minutes. In 29 playoff games, he added another goal and four assists.

In the leadup to the expansion draft, several names were bandied about as possible picks, with longtime centre Tomas Plekanec, prospect forward Charles Hudon and young defenceman Brandon Davidson all being rumoured as favourites. In the end, the Golden Knights elected to take the hard-hitting Emelin, who became notorious for his hard-but-clean hip checks.

Other notable picks included Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, Nashville Predators forward James Neal, St. Louis Blues forward David Perron and Ottawa Senators' defenceman Marc Methot.

Draft results were announced during the annual NHL awards gala, which was held in Las Vegas. Carey Price, the sole Hab up for a major award, lost out on the Vezina to Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jacket. Bobrovsky previously won the award in 2013 while Price was the winner in 2015.

Here are some of the night's other winners.