After spending the past two seasons in the KHL, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is open to returning to the team. However, bringing him back wouldn’t be a smart move for the Habs.
The Montreal Canadiens are still looking to improve their team this offseason. They tried to sign Sebastian Aho to an offer sheet, but the Carolina Hurricanes matched it. The Canadiens still have about $4 million of cap space to improve their roster. One way they could do that is by signing a familiar free agent – defenseman Andrei Markov.
Markov spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens from 2000 to 2017, playing in 990 games and putting up 572 points. Back in 2017, he wanted a two-year deal, but Montreal only offered him a one-year deal. Markov decided to go to the KHL.
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Over the past two seasons in the KHL, he has 47 points in 104 games. Markov put up 33 points during the 2017-18 season. During that season, he was named a KHL All-Star and helped Ak Bar Kazan win the Gagarin Cup, the KHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.
Markov might be 40 years old, but he is still capable of playing at a high level. He’s one of the smartest defensemen in the world, as he has been able to adapt and play at a high level despite his physical gifts declining over the years.
Last season, the Canadiens had one of the worst power plays in the NHL. Markov could provide an immediate benefit there. Since the start of the 2000-01 season, he ranks fifth among defensemen in power-play points with 294. Back in Markov’s last season with the Canadiens (2016-17), he put up 12 power-play points. Last season, Jeff Petry had 11. So Markov could give the Canadiens a boost there.
In a recent interview, Markov said he would be welcome to a return to Montreal. He also went into the reasoning behind his departure. Despite the Canadiens not wanting to re-sign him after the 2016-17 season, Markov insists there are no hard feelings.
However, it might be hard for the Canadiens to make room for him on their blueline. Currently, they have five left-handed defensemen under contract. Even if the Canadiens send down Karl Alzner, which they are expected to do, that will leave them with four options on the left side.
Victor Mete is their only defenseman who is exempt from waivers and he’s expected to be an important part of their defense. Unless the Canadiens want to risk losing Christian Folin, one of their few right-handed options, there is simply no space for Markov.
It would be great if the Canadiens could bring back Markov. He deserves to play in at least 10 more games so he can get to 1,000 games played for his career. Markov has overcome a lot, including a terrible ankle injury that nearly cost him his career, so 1,000 games would mean a lot for him. However, there’s simply not any space on the Canadiens right now for him.