The Montreal Canadiens have entered the quietest time on the calendar. While there is little to look forward to in the month of August, we decided to take a look back at some of the greatest players in franchise history. We commence our site countdown of the five best defensemen in Canadiens history with the number five ranked D-Man, Andrei Markov.
Markov’s number five rank is truly telling about how many excellent defensemen have played for the 24-time Stanley Cup champions. He made his NHL debut with the same team he would end up playinghis entire 990-game career with, the Montreal Canadiens. Such was the beginning, and fans would soon know just how important having a defenseman of Markov’s ilk would be.
He had a style that meshed perfectly with his hockey IQ and adept skating. While Markov’s number 79 might not be in the rafters of the Bell Centre, he left an impact on his teammates. He was a consummate professional, and any of his defensive partners benefitted majorly by pairing with Markov.
Nicknamed the general, he was able to pick apart offensive attacks and guide his defense partner on where to go and how to be properly positioned. His offensive game wasn’t brilliant, but he was a wonderful playmaker, with the ability to run a very good powerplay. PK Subban was the beneficiary of many great passes, and so were Galchenyuk, Pacioretty, Kovalev, and many others.
He wasn’t great at one thing but very good at a lot of things. The list of his personal achievements isn’t a very long one, but he did compete in two NHL All-Star games and led the league in assists (52) during the 2008-09 season. Markov impacted the game in a way that he was the absolutely perfect number defenseman that thrived with an offensive defenseman because he was sound defensively, had great awareness in all three zones, and was a brilliant playmaker, all traits that endeared him to his defence partners.
His shot was one of the most underrated aspects of his game, as he was more known as a playmaker, and often deferred the shot. But when he did shoot, he had the perfect blend of patience and skill, which allowed him to find the open ice for high-danger scoring opportunities. His hard, accurate shot exploded off his stick, or he would shoot tippable snapshots to give netminders fits.
While his end with the Canadiens wasn’t exactly a beautiful, storybook finish, the defenseman’s on-ice ability might not be the same. But he certainly could thrive on the defence side of an NHL bench. The way he thinks the game, and how he was able to mentor younger defensemen during his playing days would allow him to seamlessly transition into coaching.
Perhaps his most notable accomplishment in a Canadiens uniform is his longevity, having played the sixth most games in franchise history and trailing only Larry Robinson among defensemen. He would be much higher on the list if it weren’t for a two-year stretch where he played in just 20 games, thanks to two separate knee injuries.
For all of these reasons, Andrei Markov ranks as the fifth-best defenseman in the Montreal Canadiens’ long, storied history.