Confirmed with Link: Markov Re-signs 5.75m/3 years

[Redux91]

Age doesn't matter with the general, he will always find a way to modify his play so that he can remain relevant in this league.

I wish he could of modified his play vs the Rangers speed

 

[Monctonscout]

Sometimes people here seem to think that this is an EA Sports video game they're playing, where you trade players back and forth nonchalantly. Markov is devoted to the team, the city and puts in an extraordinary effort, not to mention having recovered and fought his way back from two devastating injuries. If you DON'T resign a guy like that on decent terms, you're sending a message to the entire team that loyalty is strictly a one-way street, and that nothing matters but the money. This is one of the smarter contracts MB has made, if only because it says clearly that first-class players who play in a first class manner can expect to spend their entire careers with the Montreal Canadiens. Teams need cohesion and unity and a sense that effort made will be rewarded. This helps.

Plus to replace Markov adequately would have cost around 6.5 mil and the trading away of valuable assets.

 

[Monctonscout]

I wish he could of modified his play vs the Rangers speed

The whole defense would have looked a lot better with Price back there instead of Tokarski, mostly due to his puckhandling, which helps neutralize the forecheck.

 

[Monctonscout]

Maybe we already have cap space set aside for Subban? I just don't understand the logic behind bashing Markov for taking his third hometown discount in a row. Markov guaranteed would have gotten more than 5.75 on the open market the last three contracts his signed with us. The guy loves playing here and does what he's told. The new GM/coach came in and said we needed to get tougher and more physical and Markov became the meanest guy our blue line. Only a Pejorative Slur would think one year at 38 years old and 5.75 cap hit is going to cripple us. Not flaming it's the truth.

With the new CBA, 35+ contracts are not as crippling...you can retain salary and trade a guy, plus as we saw with Thomas, if he retires early we can trade him to a cap floor team. Not ideal but not a big deal either.

He takes up 8% of the cap and that number will surely decline to 7% or maybe less in the next 2-3 years.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

The whole defense would have looked a lot better with Price back there instead of Tokarski, mostly due to his puckhandling, which helps neutralize the forecheck.

Keep believing that. I really hope bergy doesn't think that way. The D needs to be improved upon with or without price.

 

[FrankMTL]

Like most, I would have much preferred a 2 year deal, but I guess we'll worry about that 2 years from now. I'm sure he would have gotten 3 years on the open market. For now, we need him. We have nobody that's ready to step in at the moment, but Beaulieu and Tinordi should be gradually playing more games.

I'm sure they'll adjust his playing time and keep him closer to 18-20 minutes a game.

Happy Markov will retire as a hab..Who was the last Canadiens player to play his whole career in Montreal?

 

[Matteus]

Sometimes people here seem to think that this is an EA Sports video game they're playing, where you trade players back and forth nonchalantly. Markov is devoted to the team, the city and puts in an extraordinary effort, not to mention having recovered and fought his way back from two devastating injuries. If you DON'T resign a guy like that on decent terms, you're sending a message to the entire team that loyalty is strictly a one-way street, and that nothing matters but the money. This is one of the smarter contracts MB has made, if only because it says clearly that first-class players who play in a first class manner can expect to spend their entire careers with the Montreal Canadiens. Teams need cohesion and unity and a sense that effort made will be rewarded. This helps.

This is so true! A lot of people here seem to think a GM has nothing more to factor in than if he were trading hockey cards.

 

[HomaridII]

Like most, I would have much preferred a 2 year deal, but I guess we'll worry about that 2 years from now. I'm sure he would have gotten 3 years on the open market. For now, we need him. We have nobody that's ready to step in at the moment, but Beaulieu and Tinordi should be gradually playing more games.

I'm sure they'll adjust his playing time and keep him closer to 18-20 minutes a game.

Happy Markov will retire as a hab..Who was the last Canadiens player to play his whole career in Montreal?

Mario Tremblay.

 

[habscup*]

Keep believing that. I really hope bergy doesn't think that way. The D needs to be improved upon with or without price.

It's not a belief, its fact. Note how much better we were defensively vs Tampa and Boston. Hint: Price was in net.

 

[Tuggy]

Keep believing that. I really hope bergy doesn't think that way. The D needs to be improved upon with or without price.

Why can't it be both?

The defense is much better with Price in net handling the puck, but at the same time it needs to be improved.

 

[Cole Caulifield]

It's not a belief, its fact. Note how much better we were defensively vs Tampa and Boston. Hint: Price was in net.

All of the teams in the conference finals had good goalies who contributed to their team getting there.

 

[Nedved]

the only way we lose markov is through injury. his play is fine and if we lose him to injury we've got the players to step up, this time around.

this is a great deal....don't be silly, because of his past injuries. it will not hurt as much this time, if at all

 

[Monctonscout]

Why can't it be both?

The defense is much better with Price in net handling the puck, but at the same time it needs to be improved.

The best way to improve the defense is to keep developing Tinordi and Beaulieu, not investing #2 money into another #4 d-man in Niskanen(or whoever else gets a bloated UFA contract). Teams that have stud d-men are not going to give them away.

I think the defense is fine for now, it's depth up front that needs upgrading. I think that's a possibility in the UFA market as wing is the deepest position with Iginla Gaborik Vanek Jokinen Vrbata Moulson Hemsky Raymond Cammalleri Michalek Alfredsson and Callahan all potential top 6 wingers. Kulemin could be a 2nd/3rd line option.

At center it's just Stastny Richards and Legwand. So not very strong or deep.

Ideally a UFA winger would be shorter term like Iginla Jokinen or Vrbata 2-4 years.

 

[Monctonscout]

the only way we lose markov is through injury. his play is fine and if we lose him to injury we've got the players to step up, this time around.

this is a great deal....don't be silly, because of his past injuries. it will not hurt as much this time, if at all

Plus if he gets hurt you can use LTIR so that's not a huge risk even for a 35+.

Retirement is a risk, but as we saw with Thomas, cap floor teams may want a player to get to the floor.

 

[GaineysRightHandMan]

Why does everyone think Markov will be slower at age 39? I really don't get it. Speaking about general athletics, well past 40 is when people start to slow down and a lot of people still get faster until 45. I don't know why it would be any different with skating. I am 40 years old - I play hockey and am a competitive runner and know from experience that you don't slow down in your late 30s. Maybe if you slack in your training, you can slow down in late 30s. Can't we just send him to Gary Roberts summer camp next year, haha??? Didn't Chelios do quite well right until age 44?

 

[Monctonscout]

Why does everyone think Markov will be slower at age 39? I really don't get it. Speaking about general athletics, well past 40 is when people start to slow down and a lot of people still get faster until 45. I don't know why it would be any different with skating. I am 40 years old - I play hockey and am a competitive runner and know from experience that you don't slow down in your late 30s. Maybe if you slack in your training, you can slow down in late 30s. Can't we just send him to Gary Roberts summer camp next year, haha??? Didn't Chelios do quite well right until age 44?

Markov lost a step due to all the ACL surgeries, but I found he was moving better this year than last year. He definitely doesn't have GREAT mobility, but plenty to get by.

 

[lamp9post]

Why does everyone think Markov will be slower at age 39? I really don't get it. Speaking about general athletics, well past 40 is when people start to slow down and a lot of people still get faster until 45. I don't know why it would be any different with skating. I am 40 years old - I play hockey and am a competitive runner and know from experience that you don't slow down in your late 30s. Maybe if you slack in your training, you can slow down in late 30s. Can't we just send him to Gary Roberts summer camp next year, haha??? Didn't Chelios do quite well right until age 44?

I honestly think the decline that tends to hit players in their mid-30's is more mental than physical. I think playing 10-15 years of hockey in this league will wear on you and your willingness to make the same sacrifices you may have in your mid-20's starts to decline. At that point you have already made your money and your reputation. Not only that but you've played so many games that it might not seem like a big deal to take a shift or a game off here or there. I think this is what is happening to Lecavalier for example.

 

[Price is Wright]

I have faith in Markov being at the very least a third pairing defenceman with powerplay capabilities in his third season.

 

[BJCOLLINS]

It's funny, because nobody has said that. And you ignore again the fact that we would need to trade valuable assets.

I would say that the fact that so many great centers are available makes trading Pleks harder, not easier.

good points.

 

[Monctonscout]

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke · 5m
Dreger on TSN Radio (last night) "I think the Markov deal for Mon is a worthwhile gamble"

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke · 5m
Dreger "I watched Markov very closely through the 3 rounds of the playoffs this year. He still has a lot of game left"

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke · 5m
Dreger "you're looking at a term that doesn't buckle you & you're looking at a financial statement that's less than Markov was looking for"

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke · 4m
Dreger "the reality is, that's the going rate. Dan Boyle may be the happiest guy next to Markov bc Markov is no longer a potential UFA"

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke · 4m
Dreger "some of the interest that was going towards Markov will now shift to Dan Boyle"

 

[Monctonscout]

Markov's deal makes it a lot easier to move him if he no longer fits in 1-2 years...

Christopher ‏@HabsTalk11 · 41s
Andrei Markov's contract breakdown: $7M with full NTC in 2014-15.
$6M with limited NTC in 2015-16.
$4.25M with limited NTC in 2016-17.

 

[Mrb1p]

Keep believing that. I really hope bergy doesn't think that way. The D needs to be improved upon with or without price.

It does need improving for sure. A lot.

But to downplay the impact Price has on this team is quite silly, even for you.

 

[Raimu]

Markov's deal makes it a lot easier to move him if he no longer fits in 1-2 years...

Christopher ‏@HabsTalk11 · 41s
Andrei Markov's contract breakdown: $7M with full NTC in 2014-15.
$6M with limited NTC in 2015-16.
$4.25M with limited NTC in 2016-17.

A team like Ottawa or Florida may be interested in Markov in year 3. 5.75 cap hit to help them get to the floor, but only actually spending 4.25 on him

 

[overlords]

Surprised markov wasn't bullish about having a full NTC at his age. Nice of him to let that go.

 

[FerrisRox]

Mario Tremblay.

Bob Gainey retired a few years later, following the '89 Cup Final.