The Future of Andrei Markov and the Canadiens
As more sources continue to confirm the severity of Andrei Markov's knee injury, it's becoming clearer that the Canadiens may have to do without their top defenceman at least until the playoffs, perhaps even the entire season. Last night, The Team 990's Tony Marinaro reported that Markov suffered a torn ACL as well as torn cartilage and that the recovery time would at least be as long as the six months it took Markov to recover from his last torn ACL.
Seeing as how Markov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and in the end, has to take his own best interests as the priority, he has no logical reason to try and rush back from the injury. At this point, he'd be wise to take the necessary time he needs to rehab his knee once again and hope at least one general manager has enough faith in his health to give him some semblance of the last big pay day Markov was due to receive had he been healthy this entire season and maintained his level of play.
As contract talks continued prior to the injury, the sticking point between the two sides was reported by Marinaro to be the amount of years. The Canadiens wanted five, Markov wanted six. Even at the hometown discount Markov was expected to take, he surely would still have made over $6 million a year. But seeing as Markov missed 37 games in the regular season last year, the final 11 playoff games, the first 10 games of this season and now potentially the rest of the year, all bets are off.
But in a league where decade-long deals are seemingly being given to every big-named player, it is conceivable to think that another general manager would be willing to give Markov at least five years in an effort to woo him over to his team, as foolish as it would be. Putting your emotional attachment to Markov aside, if Pierre Gauthier walked up to the podium at the Bell Centre in June to announce that the team has re-signed Markov to a five-year, $30 million deal, would you not think the contract has a decent likelyhood to be another albatross on the Canadiens payroll? I say let the Glen Sathers of the NHL give Markov that kind of deal. The most I would give Markov is a two-year, $7 million deal, a deal I think Markov would be unlikely to settle with.
It could be a sad end to the career of Andrei Markov with the Canadiens. They stole him in the 6th round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and developed him into arguably the best home-grown Montreal Canadien since Patrick Roy, at least the best one to actually stay with the team during his prime years.
I understand that all of these are harsh realities to face but reality is often times harsh and the reality is that Andrei Markov may very well have played his last game in a Habs uniform.
Seeing as how Markov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and in the end, has to take his own best interests as the priority, he has no logical reason to try and rush back from the injury. At this point, he'd be wise to take the necessary time he needs to rehab his knee once again and hope at least one general manager has enough faith in his health to give him some semblance of the last big pay day Markov was due to receive had he been healthy this entire season and maintained his level of play.
As contract talks continued prior to the injury, the sticking point between the two sides was reported by Marinaro to be the amount of years. The Canadiens wanted five, Markov wanted six. Even at the hometown discount Markov was expected to take, he surely would still have made over $6 million a year. But seeing as Markov missed 37 games in the regular season last year, the final 11 playoff games, the first 10 games of this season and now potentially the rest of the year, all bets are off.
But in a league where decade-long deals are seemingly being given to every big-named player, it is conceivable to think that another general manager would be willing to give Markov at least five years in an effort to woo him over to his team, as foolish as it would be. Putting your emotional attachment to Markov aside, if Pierre Gauthier walked up to the podium at the Bell Centre in June to announce that the team has re-signed Markov to a five-year, $30 million deal, would you not think the contract has a decent likelyhood to be another albatross on the Canadiens payroll? I say let the Glen Sathers of the NHL give Markov that kind of deal. The most I would give Markov is a two-year, $7 million deal, a deal I think Markov would be unlikely to settle with.
It could be a sad end to the career of Andrei Markov with the Canadiens. They stole him in the 6th round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and developed him into arguably the best home-grown Montreal Canadien since Patrick Roy, at least the best one to actually stay with the team during his prime years.
I understand that all of these are harsh realities to face but reality is often times harsh and the reality is that Andrei Markov may very well have played his last game in a Habs uniform.
Will Martinez runs the 'Hey, My Name is Will' blog and is a contributor for TheFranchise.ca. You can follow Will on Twitter @heymynameiswill
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