Markov signs with AK Bars (KHL) [MOD WARNING POST 60]

[Kimota]

What it is Purple Pants said, Markov had trouble making a pass? On your nose, freak.

If this isn't the cherry on top as proof that PP needs to be fired, I don't know what will be.

 

[badbrains]

Really happy for Markov. Guy deserved a Stanley Cup but a Russian championship is a great consolation prize. One of the best D to ever wear the CH. Should be a hall of famer.

Oh yeah,

f*** you, Marc!

 

[Laurentide]

For me its a sure thing but is it sure that Markov number will be retired?

No chance. Same goes for Koivu. If you don't win at least one Cup you can't get your number retired in Montreal, nor should you. Getting your number retired in Montreal is tougher than getting into the HHOF and you should have to be in the HHOF PLUS have won a Cup with the Habs to be considered for number retirement.

It also helps if you happen to be of French Canadian heritage. You don't have to wait as long as the Anglos.

 

[Burke the Legend]

Good for Andrei to win this minor league championship but you guys have to give it a rest that Markov was a #1 D-man we let walk. He was done as a NHLer and I suggest you go re-watch that NYR-Habs series if you are wondering why. He was scouted out as the soft target and they went hard after him, he looked very weak even with Weber carrying him (who played great).

Markov probably still had a spot in the CH as a very sheltered 3rd pairing guy/PP specialist, and it's fun to blame everything on Bergevin but Markov shares in the blame too for that negotiation collapse because he was unprofessional and did not hire an agent. Instead everything became so personal, ego driven and acrimonious. This is why 99% of players step back and let a professional agent handle the back and forth talk.

 

[MaxDummy]

Instead everything became so personal, ego driven and acrimonious.

 

[Laurentide]

Good for Andrei to win this minor league championship but you guys have to give it a rest that Markov was a #1 D-man we let walk. He was done as a NHLer and I suggest you go re-watch that NYR-Habs series if you are wondering why. He was scouted out as the soft target and they went hard after him, he looked very weak even with Weber carrying him (who played great).

Markov probably still had a spot in the CH as a very sheltered 3rd pairing guy/PP specialist, and it's fun to blame everything on Bergevin but Markov shares in the blame too for that negotiation collapse because he was unprofessional and did not hire an agent. Instead everything became so personal, ego driven and acrimonious. This is why 99% of players step back and let a professional agent handle the back and forth talk.

This.

I loathe Bergevin as much as the next guy but not everything is his fault and not every player he let go was worth keeping. Let's keep in mind that Markov only ended up in the KHL because 30 other NHL teams didn't want him after the Habs let him walk. I liked Markov but his presence this season wouldn't have meant a damn thing in the standings. All he would have done is eat up cap space for nothing and we already have Alzner doing that. This is one Bergevin move I'm not losing sleep over. Same goes for Radulov. For all the whining we need to remember that the Dallas Stars didn't make the playoffs either. They just won't draft as high as the Habs because Radulov helped them to be mediocre instead of abysmal like us. And Dallas will regret that deal when Radulov inevitably starts coasting. I was very wary about Bergevin opening the vault for an enigmatic Russian guy on the wrong side of 30. I'm glad he didn't get sucked into a bad deal, for once.

 

[Andrei79]

So happy for Markov.

This must be huge for him after everything that's happened in the past year. I always wished we'd see Price, Subban and Markov lift the cup here, but Bergevin made sure that'd never happen.

We might see Subban and Markov with their own cups this year though.

But what I'm reminded most of with this win, is how wrong the haters were once again. 2nd among defensemen in ice time on his team, played in all situations and had basically all the tough defensive assignments 5 on 5.

He was good old steady Markov.

And to quote Pacioretty:

" Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty repeatedly said that night that if Markov were to leave the team, he would score 10 fewer goals per season."

LOL, not that far from the truth.

This.

I loathe Bergevin as much as the next guy but not everything is his fault and not every player he let go was worth keeping. Let's keep in mind that Markov only ended up in the KHL because 30 other NHL teams didn't want him after the Habs let him walk.

This is straight up false. No need to make up BS.

I liked Markov but his presence this season wouldn't have meant a damn thing in the standings. All he would have done is eat up cap space for nothing and we already have Alzner doing that.

If this is true for Markov, this would be true for every player.

With 8M of unused cap space who the f*** cares if Markov would've gottent that 1 year deal. He's a good and entertaining player, something we didn't have this season. He's as close to a Habs legend as we've gotten it the last 25 years, 10 games away from 1000.

But more importantly, this team had a plan to compete this year. That's enough reason to keep a player like Markov.

 

[habs73]

This.

I loathe Bergevin as much as the next guy but not everything is his fault and not every player he let go was worth keeping. Let's keep in mind that Markov only ended up in the KHL because 30 other NHL teams didn't want him after the Habs let him walk. I liked Markov but his presence this season wouldn't have meant a damn thing in the standings. All he would have done is eat up cap space for nothing and we already have Alzner doing that. This is one Bergevin move I'm not losing sleep over. Same goes for Radulov. For all the whining we need to remember that the Dallas Stars didn't make the playoffs either. They just won't draft as high as the Habs because Radulov helped them to be mediocre instead of abysmal like us. And Dallas will regret that deal when Radulov inevitably starts coasting. I was very wary about Bergevin opening the vault for an enigmatic Russian guy on the wrong side of 30. I'm glad he didn't get sucked into a bad deal, for once.

The Habs didn't tank on purpose, they were taken down by the incompetent GM. He will make further crippling moves in the future to try and get them back to the playoffs. Keeping Radulov and Markov last year probably meant that the Drouin trade doesn't happen and Alzner wouldn't have been signed. If anyone thinks that the moves are not connected, you really are not paying attention

 

[Dongstoppable]

Same goes for Radulov. For all the whining we need to remember that the Dallas Stars didn't make the playoffs either. They just won't draft as high as the Habs because Radulov helped them to be mediocre instead of abysmal like us. And Dallas will regret that deal when Radulov inevitably starts coasting. I was very wary about Bergevin opening the vault for an enigmatic Russian guy on the wrong side of 30. I'm glad he didn't get sucked into a bad deal, for once.

Aside from genuine prejudice against Russian players, what could this possibly be based on? Of all the criticisms of Radulov that are valid - you really think he'll start "coasting"? Better get rid of Gallagher too before he starts "coasting" - right? That's just as valid based on their past performances; Radulov has always been all-out, even if as a young man that came out in the wrong way at times.

The Stars failed to make the playoffs for a variety of reasons but Radulov was adamantly not one of them. While he probably wouldn't have made much of a difference for us this season, one of our biggest challenges going forward is acquiring scoring depth, especially guys with game-breaking ability and passion like Radu. Having someone like that to show our young players along and take some of the scoring pressure off them so they develop properly is a huge part of a proper rebuild. Balking at Radulov was absolutely a terrible decision.

 

[Laurentide]

Andrei79 how is it BS that Markov went to the KHL because he couldn't get an NHL gig? That's not BS. It's the objective truth. Please tell me which NHL teams offered him a job last summer after he and the Habs parted ways.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Andrei79 how is it BS that Markov went to the KHL because he couldn't get an NHL gig? That's not BS. It's the objective truth. Please tell me which NHL teams offered him a job last summer after he and the Habs parted ways.

Andrei Markov was his own agent and said he received calls from teams but he didn't negotiate with anyone but the Montreal Canadiens. He had no intention of playing for any other NHL team.. so it was Montreal or KHL.

If you want loyalty, buy a dog, or something.

 

[Andrei79]

Andrei79 how is it BS that Markov went to the KHL because he couldn't get an NHL gig? That's not BS. It's the objective truth. Please tell me which NHL teams offered him a job last summer after he and the Habs parted ways.

It's BS because its patently false.

“I don’t see myself with any other NHL team,” the 38-year-old added. “I didn’t see myself wearing another jersey.”

Markov said he did speak with other NHL teams and had a few options

 

[Andy]

Probably my favorite hab. Love this guy. Happy he was able to win a championship with his team. Class act, insanely good and insanely underrated d-man.

 

[Price is Wright]

This.

I loathe Bergevin as much as the next guy but not everything is his fault and not every player he let go was worth keeping. Let's keep in mind that Markov only ended up in the KHL because 30 other NHL teams didn't want him after the Habs let him walk. I liked Markov but his presence this season wouldn't have meant a damn thing in the standings. All he would have done is eat up cap space for nothing and we already have Alzner doing that. This is one Bergevin move I'm not losing sleep over. Same goes for Radulov. For all the whining we need to remember that the Dallas Stars didn't make the playoffs either. They just won't draft as high as the Habs because Radulov helped them to be mediocre instead of abysmal like us. And Dallas will regret that deal when Radulov inevitably starts coasting. I was very wary about Bergevin opening the vault for an enigmatic Russian guy on the wrong side of 30. I'm glad he didn't get sucked into a bad deal, for once.

Imagine if this team drafted the next Lidstrom but never won a Cup.

"Sure he's the best defenceman of his generation but we can't retire his number. His team sucked!"

It's so silly but that's the way it is. People argued Roy shouldn't be retired with only two Cups despite the HOF and nobody daring to touch #33.

 

[Laurentide]

It's BS because its patently false.

“I don’t see myself with any other NHL team,” the 38-year-old added. “I didn’t see myself wearing another jersey.”

Markov said he did speak with other NHL teams and had a few options

Now who's talking BS?

If Markov had been given a legitimate NHL option he would have taken it. But nobody wanted him at the money he wanted to be paid. All 31 NHL GM's determined that he wasn't worth the money he was asking for. I'm sure plenty of teams (the Habs included) wouldn't have minded taking him but only under certain conditions regarding salary and (most especially) term. But under the minimum conditions acceptable to Markov no team was interested.

 

[Andrei79]

Now who's talking BS?

If Markov had been given a legitimate NHL option he would have taken it. But nobody wanted him at the money he wanted to be paid. All 31 NHL GM's determined that he wasn't worth the money he was asking for. I'm sure plenty of teams (the Habs included) wouldn't have minded taking him but only under certain conditions regarding salary and (most especially) term. But under the minimum conditions acceptable to Markov no team was interested.

lol.

Markov even went on to explain why Montreal and Russia were the only options he considered for family reasons. You know, since the mother of his twins died in the past year ?

No need to fabricate BS, again.

 

[Laurentide]

Imagine if this team drafted the next Lidstrom but never won a Cup.

"Sure he's the best defenceman of his generation but we can't retire his number. His team sucked!"

It's so silly but that's the way it is. People argued Roy shouldn't be retired with only two Cups despite the HOF and nobody daring to touch #33.

Well we'll never know because Markov wasn't the next Lidstrom or even close to him. He probably won't make the HHOF and will consequently not meet either of the two requirements needed for his jersey number to be retired (to go along with the zero Norris Trophies he won as well)

Besides, Molson shouldn't get to make any money off of another jersey retirement night unless the number they're retiring was worn by a guy who actually won something. Let them retire Steve Shutt's #22 if they're jonesing for a celebration. He'd have had his number retired by pretty much any other team had he played most of his career there, he's in the HHOF and he won multiple Cups with the Habs. If he were francophone this would have already happened. In any case, he is far more deserving of the honor than Markov or Koivu.

As soon as you lower the standards you make the honor meaningless. How ridiculous would it look to see all the numbers hanging from the rafters, these giants of the game, these legendary, Hall of Fame players with all those championships....and Markov. Because people liked him and he was a pretty good defenseman on some mediocre Habs teams that had little else going for them.

Really.

 

[Laurentide]

lol.

Markov even went on to explain why Montreal and Russia were the only options he considered for family reasons. You know, since the mother of his twins died in the past year ?

No need to fabricate BS, again.

He's already re-married! I'm not buying "family reasons" for a nano-second. He wanted more term than any NHL team was willing to give him. Besides, if we want to talk about "ka-RACK-ter", guys like Markov and Pleks are not exactly shining examples of how to conduct oneself off the ice. They were quiet about it and most of their lechery happened overseas and was therefore underreported on this side of the pond but let's just say that I wouldn't let any daughter of mine get near either one of them.

 

[Andrei79]

He's already re-married! I'm not buying "family reasons" for a nano-second. He wanted more term than any NHL team was willing to give him. Besides, if we want to talk about "ka-RACK-ter", guys like Markov and Pleks are not exactly shining examples of how to conduct oneself off the ice. They were quiet about it and most of their lechery happened overseas and was therefore underreported on this side of the pond but let's just say that I wouldn't let any daughter of mine get near either one of them.

what the f*** did I just read.

Not wasting more time on this.

 

[MaxDummy]

So Streit was able to get another gig but not Markov? Righttttt...

"Markov, 38, said he would have played for the Canadiens on a one-year contract but that Montreal declined."

Pay the f***ing guy you had cap space anyways. Look at SJ with Thornton... 1 year /8millions. They don't care they had the space

 

[Schwang]

He deserved a send off, not a send away.

Just as importantly, we needed him on the blue line.

I’m not 100% sure, but was there an offer? I thought there was. I’m not defending MB, but didn’t Markov make the choice to leave? I get that he may not have liked the offer, but still...

 

[ArtPeur]

I’m not 100% sure, but was there an offer? I thought there was. I’m not defending MB, but didn’t Markov make the choice to leave? I get that he may not have liked the offer, but still...

Bergevin, in a presser on July 2nd, said that he gave Radulov and Markov his final offers. Take it or leave it. Radulov signed in Dallas the next day, Markov waited until the end of July.

 

[Price is Wright]

Well we'll never know because Markov wasn't the next Lidstrom or even close to him.

I wasn't saying that.

Okay let me be clear.

Imagine the Habs draft Hughes next year and he puts up 80-100 per season but the Habs otherwise are terrible and despite him being one of the elite players of his generation the team around him never wins. He wins two Harts and three Art Ross trophies but no ring.

No number retirement because of a team accomplishment? It's silly.

 

[Laurentide]

Like everything else with Bergevin we will likely never know the true story of what went on between him and Radulov or with Markov (or Subban, for that matter) Markov was holding out for a 2 year deal but after going to Russia said he would have taken a 1 year deal. Uhh, okay. Maybe that's the truth or maybe not. Radulov's story also seemed to undergo some revisions after he signed with Dallas if I recall correctly. I personally was not opposed to bringing Markov back but I didn't want him for more than one season and I didn't want to pay him big money. So when he wound up not signing I wasn't bothered one way or the other. I liked him when he was here but he was years past the time when his presence was indispensable.

Now if you want to pillory Bergevin for not having a better Plan B than overpaying for Alzner and signing Streit, well that's a whole other conversation. But deciding to part company with a 38 year old defenseman with a history of knee injuries was far from a fireable offense in my view. People who say that we "needed" to keep him so that he could finish his career in a Habs uniform (which, technically, he did as far as NHL hockey is concerned) are overly sentimental, just like people who want Plekanec back so that he can play his 1000th game wearing the CH. You don't sign players to contracts based on sentiment or based on what they used to be able to do for you, at least not in a salary cap system.

 

[ArtPeur]

I also wanted to point out a few facts about Markov's production:

Last year, he had 12pts on the PP and 36 pts overall. (17/44 the season before)
In comparison:
- Petry had 23 PP points and 42 overall this season. (7/28 the season before but with limited second wave time)
- Weber had 22 PP and 42 total last season.

This team wasn't missing his offence on the PP. This team was missing his vision and his passes overall. Is he slower (and weaker) than before? Yes. But he would still be #2-3 on this team because that's how bad our defense is. You can't give him limited ice-time, like they tried to do last year, because he's still better than the other Ds.

Honestly, would Markov have been better or worse than Lolzner, Benn and Schlemko this season?

Chara has become so slow and plays much less ice time than before, still, the Bruins will be bringing him back next season? The Habs? Nah, Markov can't pass, is weak and too slow.