Alexei Andreyvich Melnichuk (Russian: Алексей Андреевич Мельничук; born 29 June 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Alexei Melnichuk
Born (1998-06-29) 29 June 1998 (age 26)
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
KHL team
Former teams
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
SKA Saint Petersburg
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
San Jose Sharks
HC Sochi
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Avangard Omsk
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present

Playing career

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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 reassigned to the Lightning's ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears.[5]

After completing the season with the Solar Bears, Melnichuk's KHL rights were traded by SKA Saint Petersburg to HC Sochi on 6 May 2022.[6] Opting to halt his North American career, Melnichuk was later signed by Sochi to a two-year contract on 11 May 2022.[7]

During the 2022–23 season, Melnichuk made 8 appearances with Sochi before he was initially loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk for the remainder of the season on 21 October 2022.[8] After two months with Traktor, Melnichuk was again on the move and signed a two-way contract with Avangard Omsk on 21 December 2022.[9]

Melnichuk made just two appearances with Avangard Omsk before his rights were traded in the off-season in a return to former club, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on 20 July 2023. He was promptly signed to a one-year contract for the 2023–24 season.[10] Before making an appearance with Torpedo, Melnichuk left the club following an injury and moved to fellow KHL outfit, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, on 28 December 2023.[11]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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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
2021–22 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 6 2 1 2 276 14 0 3.04 .895
2022–23 HC Sochi KHL 8 1 4 0 372 16 0 2.58 .922
2022–23 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 4 0 2 0 105 10 0 5.70 .750
2022–23 Omskie Krylia VHL 4 0 2 0 120 11 0 5.49 .817
2022–23 Avangard Omsk KHL 2 0 1 0 60 3 0 3.00 .857
2023–24 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 4 2 1 0 195 4 1 1.23 .938
KHL totals 50 18 19 3 2,543 99 5 2.34 .914
NHL totals 3 0 1 1 131 11 0 5.05 .864

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2018 Russia WJC 5th 1 0 0 0 40 4 0 6.00 .750
Junior totals 1 0 0 0 40 4 0 6.00 .750

References

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  1. ^ "Sharks Sign Goaltender Alexei Melnichuk". National Hockey League. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Kings score six, defeat Sharks to split two-game set, end slide". National Hockey League. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Kessel wins it in OT in 900th consecutive NHL game, Coyotes top Sharks". National Hockey League. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Lightning acquire goalie Alexei Melnichuk from Sharks for Antoine Morand". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ Tampa Bay Lightning (22 March 2022). "Melnichuk will report to Orlando". Twitter. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Sports rights exchanged" (in Russian). HC Sochi. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Alexei Melnichuk becomes a Sochi player" (in Russian). HC Sochi. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Alexie Melnichuk in Traktor" (in Russian). Traktor Chelyabinsk. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Avangard signs Melnichuk" (in Russian). Avangard Omsk. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Alexei Melnichuk will return to Torpedo" (in Russian). Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Alexei Melnichuk Lokomotiv newcomer" (in Russian). Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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