I voted Markov for longevity/impact. Kovalev was a really fun ride though I probably “liked” him more in that sense, but I can’t vote against Markov here.
Favourite Habs player in the post-1993 era: #3
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No issues with Subban going 2nd...I personally voted for Markov but it was close between him and Subban.
This is a poll for fan favourites, has nothing to do with talent...Subban did a fantastic job winning this city's heart.
This is a poll for fan favourites, has nothing to do with talent...Subban did a fantastic job winning this city's heart.
No he didn't. We won that series, with Kovalev being a key cog in coming back down from 3-1.
Darz
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I do. I’ve been a Habs fan since the mid 70’s and outside of Lafleur, Robinson and Koivu, Price is maybe my favourite Hab of all time.
Honestly I think he is a better goalie thanRoy, and I am a Roy fan.
Lafleurs Guy
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I guess some folks grew up loving Koivu... To me he was always a 2nd tier guy. Subban and Price were the first real elite talents we had after the Roy years. So they both get my vote. But I understand the love for Saku and Markov. Both were long time guys.
TheBuriedHab
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LaP
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DAChampion
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Markov will be 3rd by a comfortable margin, and then Kovalev will be 4th by a comfortable margin. So far, there have not been any close calls. I wonder if we'll get some soon.
Though if the current votes are a good predictor, Price will be 5th by a comfortable margin.
Though if the current votes are a good predictor, Price will be 5th by a comfortable margin.
You have got to be kidding... acre you seriously comparing 1000 games of General Andrei Markov to 1000 games of Patrice "Breeze by" Brisebois?
Mrb1p
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Koivu was as elite as these guys though, youre looking at very short peak where they sat at the top for all of them.
Mrb1p
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My choice: Markov... all his career with the Habs. A dominant top 3D... and a 162th pick!!! Kovalev I loved, he's my #2. And then the saviour, Carey Price. A pleasure to see how he masters the technical basis.
Lafleurs Guy
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Koivu was never at the level of a Subban or Price. Never close. You could argue that he was at an Andrei Markov level but even there I don't see it.
Subban and Price were/are on HOF trajectory for their careers. Now maybe that won't happen (Price for example had a terrible year last year) as they're in the middle of their respective careers and have a long way to go but Koivu was never that dominant. He was never a player near their level. He was never a top ten scorer for Pete's sake.
The sad truth is that he was the best of a bad lot for a long time. That doesn't mean he wasn't a great player or that there were reasons not to love the guy. I love Brendan Gallagher for example but he's not a star player either.
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DAChampion
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Koivu was less well surrounded than any of the players. He was regularly playing with awful wingers, and the standard topic of conversation when he was here was "when are we getting a winger for Koivu?" In 2006, he scored 75 points playing with Higgins and Ryder, that's how good he was.
I have absolutely no doubt that on a better team, with better wingers, and perhaps fewer injuries, Koivu would have had multiple point-per-game seasons.
Lafleurs Guy
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Fair enough. But he was never a star player the way Subban and Price are. They're on a different tier. Even Markov is a cut above Koivu.
And if you're going to say that about Koivu then you could say the same thing about Max Paccioretty. He'd have put up better numbers with a real center. But that doesn't mean I'd have considered him a star player like Price and PK.
LaP
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Subban was not surrounded very well. I mean he played with Gorges, Murray, Gill, Bouillon, ... He played for a short while with Markov but Koivu played for a short while with Recchi who is a HOF player.
I like Koivu but as a player he's not on the same level as Subban.
Lafleurs Guy
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Subban and Price at the very least were at or near the top of their respective positions. Markov was arguably a top ten at his.
Where does Koivu fit on that scale? Does he crack the top 20? I don't even think he's the best forward we've had since '93. Kovalev was better. Then you've got Turgeon, Damphousse and Max who you could make a case for.
People loved Koivu. That's indisputable. Many grew up with him as being the best player on bad teams. But let's not confuse that with playing ability. He was never an elite player the way those other guys were.
Mrb1p
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I really dont agree with the notion that Koivu and Markov are below Subban and Price in quality. All four of them were elite. Price reached the highest peak for sure, but hes a goalie and goalies are volatile. Subban benefited a whole lot from weak conpetition in his Norris year (even though I tried to convince everyone it didnt matter at the time 
) and even then his win is one of the worst in recent memory, probably only bested by Lidstrom stealing the Norris away from... well, Markov.
) and even then his win is one of the worst in recent memory, probably only bested by Lidstrom stealing the Norris away from... well, Markov.
Mrb1p
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Markov was "arguably" top ten? Come on now, he was as clear a top 10 as Subban ever was.
Disageee about Koivu not being wlite too, thats sone strong words you got there. 70 points seasons, leading the league as a sophomore, coming back from cancer wihout missing a beat...
DAChampion
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LaP
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DAChampion
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For me, how ‘elite’ a player is doesn’t really come into the equation for me in these polls. Granted, I loved Lapierre, but it’s hard to like him more than someone like Koivu given the different roles and effects they had on the Habs. But among the most notable, it’s not a deal breaker.
For example, I liked Souray more than Subban. I was more upset when we lost Souray than when Subban was traded. Subban is clearly a better defenseman than Souray.
I find I like two types of players:
1) really cerebral players that think the game on a different level (Damphousse, Richer, Kovalev, Price)...I’m even willing to forgive them if their effort isn’t consistent.
2) players with skill and grit that are good teammates and stand up for their team (Souray). I'd probably also have Weber in my top 5 if he'd been here for more than 2 years.
For example, I liked Souray more than Subban. I was more upset when we lost Souray than when Subban was traded. Subban is clearly a better defenseman than Souray.
I find I like two types of players:
1) really cerebral players that think the game on a different level (Damphousse, Richer, Kovalev, Price)...I’m even willing to forgive them if their effort isn’t consistent.
2) players with skill and grit that are good teammates and stand up for their team (Souray). I'd probably also have Weber in my top 5 if he'd been here for more than 2 years.
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Lafleurs Guy
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Okay let's say top ten with him at his peak.
And given how good he was late in his career I'd say Markov actually has an outside shot at the HOF because he was very good for a long period of time. I'd say he's at a level above Koivu for sure but not at the peak of Price/Subban.
Unlike those other guys though, Markov's career is pretty much complete. He was good for a long period of time and we don't have to wait and see with him. Borderline HOF candidate who I think will make it in eventually.
