Andrei Markov chooses Russia

Photo: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images / Agence France-Presse
The defender of 39-year-old played his first games with the Canadian during the 2000-2001 season.

It is the end of an era. The Montreal canadiens announced Thursday morning that it broke the bridges with the active player who had the most seniority within his or her organization, the human rights defender Andrei Markov.

The latter, which is acknowledged for its phlegm legendary, did not want to enter into the details of negotiations that have foundered with the Canadian, but has all the same hinted that he had been a part of the path. In vain.

“To reach an agreement, it takes two people, he said during a teleconference. […] But I don’t want to throw the blame on anyone. The Canadian I was always treated well, and I was proud to wear the jersey of the team for 16 seasons. I respect their decision. I asked for an agreement of two seasons, in order to ensure the safety of my family. I do not plan to announce my retirement soon. I was even willing to accept a one-year contract… It has not worked. “

Even if he admitted to having discussed the matter with other NHL teams — without naming them —, Markov said he saw not evolve again in the NHL with a different sweater than the blue-white-red. As a result, he indicated that he was on the point of returning to Russia and to agree with a club of the continental hockey League (KHL).

I didn’t want to move, with children and everything, every year or so in North America. It will be easier to adapt there.
Andrei Markov

“I made my decision based on my family, recalled the one that got married this summer and who is the father of four children. I didn’t want to move, with children and everything, every year or so in North America. It will be easier to adapt there, in Russia. I know with what team I évoluerai in Russia, but I can’t name because the contract is still not signed. “

This decision will, however, Markov to join the Russian national team and participate, ultimately, in the olympics of Pyeongchang, the next winter. Unlike the KHL, the NHL ruled earlier this summer that it would not send its players to South Korea.

“I have already participated three times and it is always a very special event, referred to Markov. Everyone understands that this is business, and regardless of the decision of the NHL, it belongs to him. But for athletes, it is a wonderful experience, a feeling that is indescribable, because it is a tournament that huge. It is very special. “

“This would be another dream [to win gold], but we will see. I’m going to play my best and hope that they let me pick. You know, it is an important goal for everyone, as much for the Canadians as the Americans, the Europeans and the Russians, ” continued the one who has dual citizenship-canadian and Russian.

Markov, who is 38 years of age, has played 990 regular season games in his career with the Habs, and he has scored 119 goals in addition to having amassed 453 assists. Markov has also managed 5 goals and 27 assists in 89 playoff games in his career with the CH.

He has equaled in the end of the season Guy Lapointe at the second level of the history of the Habs in terms of points collected by a defender — his last career with the team in montreal. The ex-number 79 of the Canadian also occupies the third place in the history of the concession for goals by a player in his position.

The principal indicated that he was very sad not to be able to reach the plateau is 1000 regular season games with the CH, but insisted that he only left the possibility of returning to the metropolis to finish his career in a few years.

“You never know. I do not close any door, he spoke. For the moment, however, I returned to Russia. It is a fair decision for many people. You know, I am born, I grew up and I started to play hockey there. […] I am sad to leave, but this is life, this is business. I am happy to be back with my family. Today, it is a sad day, but tomorrow will be another day. “The hockey player from Voskresensk, Russia, has been selected by the Canadian in the sixth round, 162nd overall, in the NHL draft in 1998.

A rupture in a predictable

Earlier this month, the director general of the Habs, Marc Bergevin, had implied that the door was going to close if Markov remained camped on its position. Signs of rupture imminent appeared in the course of the last few weeks, and culminated with the agreement reached earlier this week between the CH and the swiss defender Mark Streit, 39-year-old, who has accepted an offer of a one-year contract. Streit admitted lip that the absence of the veteran Russian — which should greatly improve his time playing in numerical advantage — was part of his thinking.

Markov, who has no bargaining agent, has given the bulk of his career in Canada and had left to imply, after the elimination of the team in the hands of the New York Rangers, that he would like to finish in Montreal.

A wish that may never come to fruition.