This season, the Montreal Canadiens will finally pay tribute to one of the most quietly impactful defensemen in franchise history: Andrei Markov. While his departure from the team in 2017 left fans with a lingering sense of unfinished business, this long-overdue recognition gives Montreal a chance to celebrate a player whose loyalty, consistency, and understated excellence made him a cornerstone of the Canadiens for nearly two decades.
Markov’s Impact and Loyalty
Few players embodied steady reliability quite like Markov. Drafted in the sixth round in 1998, he became one of the most successful late-round gems in Canadiens history. Markov suited up for 990 NHL games, all of them in a Canadiens uniform. That level of loyalty is increasingly rare in modern hockey, and it’s one of the reasons his name continues to resonate with fans today.
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On the ice, Markov was more than just consistent; he was quietly brilliant. His offensive numbers are proof of his skill: 119 goals and 453 assists, a total that ranks second among Canadiens defensemen in assists, third in goals, and second in games played. Beyond the raw numbers, Markov was the type of defenseman who could control the pace of a game.
Markov achieved all this without ever seeking the spotlight; he preferred to let his game do the talking. Yet for nearly two decades, when fans thought about the Canadiens’ defensive identity, his name was front and center. His quiet dedication to Montreal, even as the team went through rebuilds and leadership changes, is what makes him one of the true greats of the modern Habs era.
Markov’s Abrupt Departure from the Canadiens
Despite everything he gave to the franchise, Markov’s time with Montreal ended abruptly and somewhat controversially. In the summer of 2017, after 16 seasons with the Canadiens, the team decided not to re-sign him.
It wasn’t because he was washed up or unable to contribute. Far from it. Markov had just completed a season where he ranked third in average ice time on the team, and he continued to be a vital piece of the team’s defence. Even as he got older, his poise and high hockey IQ made him effective against top competition.
What stung for many fans was that the Canadiens could have easily kept him around to reach…
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