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Montreal Canadiens: Where Does Andrei Markov Rank Among Habs Defencemen?

By Ken MacMillan

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Markov #79 of the Montreal Canadiens waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 25, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Andrei Markov #79 of the Montreal Canadiens waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 25, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Andrei Markov #79 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Andrei Markov #79 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Markov could have hit free agency several times, but always stayed in Montreal

The most surprising subtraction from the roster during that summer of 2007 was definitely Markov. It seemed inevitable that the Russian defender would once again sign a contract with the Canadiens. He was no stranger to inching close to free agency before finally re-signing in Montreal.

Markov’s first opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent came in 2007. He had just finished a phenomenal season personally that ended with the Habs just outside the playoff picture. Markov was a big reason they came so close to the postseason, as he took on top pairing minutes at even strength, was a phenom on the power play and finished the year with six goals and 49 points in 77 games.

This was Markov’s second straight season of being a force with the man advantage and a smart, reliable two-way player at even strength. He had 46 points in 67 games the year prior, quickly proving that the new rules following the cancelled 2004-05 season benefitted his game greatly.

Markov was still without a contract when the 2007 postseason was going on and hitting the open market on July 1 must have been enticing after two great seasons. However, he decided to forego free agency by signing a four-year contract with a cap hit of $5.75 million on May 28.

As that contract wound down, Markov once again had the opportunity to hit the open market on July 1, 2011. He was at his best during the first two years of his previous contract, but lost most of the final two years to injury. Still, teams would have been willing to pay for hi services as a free agent.

He once again chose to avoid free agency by signing for another three years in Montreal with the same cap hit. This time, he waited until June 23, 2011 before choosing not to become a free agent just a week later.

Exactly three years later, to the day, Markov signed the exact same contract that would keep him in Montreal until 2017. Then, even when he became a free agent in 2017, it seemed impossible he would play elsewhere. As its turns out, he would not play for another NHL team, but he played the last three years in the KHL.

His final year in Montreal saw him score six goals and 36 points in 62 games. He was still playing top pairing minutes at even strength, was on the team’s first penalty killing unit and was the quarterback of the top power play. After taking on a cap hit of $5.75 million for each of the past ten seasons, it felt inevitable that Markov would stay for one or two more years at the same rate.

It wasn’t to be. Markov and Habs general manager Marc Bergevin could not come to an agreement on a new contract and he would eventually sign with Ak-Bars Kazan. This ended his lengthy tenure with the Montreal Canadiens and just yesterday, Markov announced his retirement from hockey after three years in Russia.

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