Montreal Canadiens: Andrei Markov Will Not Return
By Omar L
After weeks of waiting, it’s now official that Montreal Canadiens veteran Andrei Markov will not be returning to the team.
The signs were always were present that Andrei Markov wouldn’t return to the team, but Montreal Canadiens fans remained optimistic.
When his demands of a two-year $6 million deal were released, Habs fans thought it could be done. After the team continuously added more defenceman, there was still hope that Markov could be one of them. Now, fans know the truth.
It’s a bittersweet moment for the city of Montreal. There were those who loved Markov’s game and still wanted him on the team. On the other hand, there were also those who believed that the team needed to move on to better things.
Saying Goodbye to a Great
Montreal Canadiens’ owner Geoff Molson had this to say about Markov:
"On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Andrei for his great contributions during his 16 seasons as a proud member of the Montreal Canadiens. Arguably one of the best defencemen in franchise history, Andrei was a model of dedication to the great game of hockey. A respected figure around the league and among his teammates, Andrei demonstrated leadership both on and off the ice. Andrei’s commitment to our franchise was second to none, proven by his overcoming three serious and potentially career-ending injuries. I would like to wise Andrei the best of luck in the next step of his career, and happiness with his family."
Despite the fact that he’s north of 30, Markov is a pretty big loss for the Habs. After 16 seasons with the Canadiens, Markov has been a go-to point producer on the blue-line. He and Shea Weber combined to provide the team with a pretty solid power play as well. If you’re a fan of advanced stats, Weber actually had better possession numbers when playing with Markov.
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Additionally, we can’t forget that special moment when Markov tied Guy Lapointe for second in franchise scoring by a defenceman.
The main knock on Markov’s time with Montreal are the injuries suffered. The most recent one was a knee injury that kept him out of 19 games this season. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first knee injury the 38-year-old has suffered and the effects had been starting to show in terms of his skating.
Whats Next For Markov?
Markov is far from being done in the NHL. He’s always had the belief that he can continue to be a solid defenceman in the league despite his age. With a drive like that, Markov will look to be a contributing piece on whatever new team he decides to sign with.
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According to Igor Eronko, Markov’s next team may in fact be the Florida Panthers. If that were to happen, he definitely wouldn’t be playing as high in the line-up as he’s used to. Additionally, it’s very unlikely that the Panthers sign him to what he was making in Montreal. Florida has almost $11 million in cap space, so Markov can still make a pretty penny down there. A deal anywhere between $3 and $4 million wouldn’t be too outrageous for the NHL veteran.
It’ll be difficult and weird to see Markov in another NHL sweater, and if he does sign in Florida we’ll be seeing more of him then fans would like.
We’ll have to wait until next season to see the how much of an effect this will have on the dynamic of the team. It’s possible that this will be a better move for the Canadiens in the long run. It’s also possible that letting Markov walk could be a horrible mistake. Only time will tell which story-line plays through.
What do you think about Markov leaving the Habs? Was it the right decision? Let us know what you think in the comments!