Are the Montreal Canadiens one of the teams in on Andrei Markov?

Former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov is inching a return to the NHL, and there are teams who have already sent out contract offers.

The summer of 2017 was an emotional one for the Montreal Canadiens. Alexander Radulov came and went, and the Andrei Markov era ended in the city of Montreal. It was a hard pill to swallow, but the organization moved and as did Markov who went on to play in the KHL.

However, it looks as if Markov is ready to come back to the NHL with his deal with Ak-Bars Kazan expiring after this season. It’s not only wishful thinking at this point as there is talk that the veteran defenceman has offers on the table.

This comes from Andrew Zadarnowski of Habs Eyes on the Prize who tweeted out this information on Tuesday. According to Zadarnowski, three NHL teams have sent out contract offers to Markov as well as one team in the NHL.

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The question is, who are these teams, who is in the running, and what will that eventual deal look like?

But for the case of the Montreal Canadiens, only the first question matters at the moment. It hasn’t been out yet who the three NHL teams are and considering how heat-sealed the Habs are, we may not know until a deal is made or whether an NHL Insider decides to share some gossip on your local radio station.

Markov coming back to the NHL would be interesting. He was a key piece on Ak-Bars in the 2017-18 season as they battled to a Gregorian Cup while also making an appearance at the KHL All-Star Game. Markov finished that year with 5 goals and 28 assists for 33 points in 55 games but saw his production fall in the playoffs when relied upon for a more defensive presence.

The 2018-19 season saw Markov’s point totals fall again putting up 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 49 games while going pointless in the team’s first-round sweep.

The KHL and NHL are different given the bigger ice that gives players a lot more time and space to make plays. To provide some perspective on Markov’s scoring overseas, Hockeyabstract does have a point conversion for several leagues, including the KHL. As of 2017, 1 KHL point is 0.74 NHL points.

Therefore, Markov’s two seasons in the KHL would equate to about 24 and 11 points respectively. Not too much of a surprise for a 40-year-old player which is a rarity in the NHL nowadays. Playing on a team with fragments of a good power play who needs that extra push could help that production, and it would be a two-way street given his vision and passing skill.

Teams could run into problems if they try to play him too high in the lineup. Markov has played in the new era speed NHL in the past, but it’s gotten all the more quick. He averaged over 21 minutes in both KHL years, and that can’t happen if he returns. Ideally, a team uses him in a depth role and boosts his minutes with time on a power play unit.

Are the Montreal Canadiens one of the three teams in on Markov? It wouldn’t be surprising. However, the new mantra of the Habs blue line is mobility. Markov hasn’t lost his skating with age, but things could go south if he’s given too much too quickly. Who knows, maybe he can still take the load of a top-pairing defenceman, but the signing team should ease him into it and give him more once they’re confident.

Given how things are looking to be on the Habs blue line, there may not be room. Additionally, it’s not as if Markov will sign a league-minimum deal and the fact there will be a betting war doesn’t help that along either.

Time will only tell. It would be good to see Andrei Markov back with the Montreal Canadiens, but the fit has to make the most sense.