Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

[Dean Ambrose]

Markov fired his agent earlier in the year, looking for one last contract before retirement probably, and now he apparently wants 3 years at 6 million per.

If it weren't for such a weak FA year in terms of defensemen, Markov probably wouldn't get that...

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

I dunno about 3x6, that's a lot of term for a guy that looked pretty ordinary in his own end. I could see perhaps 2x5?

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

The FA pool is so weak this year that we have no choice but to re-sign Markov anyways.

[Jasmine]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

He signed a 3 year deal/$17.5M

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=455517

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

Excellent.

[Alfie11]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

Yikes...Marc Bergevin caved here, on both term and salary. Markov doesn't look too great these days...well, not $6M AAV with term good. I think a similar comparison was Segei Gonchar last year. Of course Gonchar is older, but they were coming off similar seasons and are the same type of defensemen. Gonchar got what MTA posted - 2yrs $10M.

They're both old, slow, pretty much rely on the power play to generate points and look lost in their own end at times.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

Markov would have gotten more on the open market anyways.

We also don't have many options and i'd rather Markov than rushing Beaulieu/Tinordi into a top four position they may not be ready for.

[Alfie11]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

3yrs/$5.75M AAV is definitely not taking any hometown discounts on his already demanding contract needs.

Looking more into the stats, Markov was sheltered. Extremely sheltered. He's not capable of playing against good competition anymore...he was fifth on his team (defensemen only) for quality of competition. He was basically playing the bottom two lines every shift, very seldom playing higher level of competition. While also looking into this, it's interesting to note that Subban doesn't play top competition either. He's fourth on the team, only slightly above Markov.

Pretty much half his points came on the power play. The guy scored a little over 20 points at even strength all season.

Maybe he would have gotten that on the open market. Maybe it's a weak free agency. Maybe the Habs need Markov back. But the Habs just gave a 35+ contract to a declining player who probably isn't worth his contract in the first year of the deal alone, let alone the two years following. I don't think we'll be seeing Marc Bergevin at the NHL Awards again next year..

[Josh]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

I like your analysis, but I think he's capable of being a good player for the length of the deal. It is at least a bit overpriced though.

[Alfie11]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

I'd argue he's "a bit" overpriced right now. Unless he's wine, age won't improve his game. I thought he looked bad defensively...factor in the competition he was playing and his even strength production and at this point I'd say he's a rich-man's Marc-Andre Bergeron.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

He's slowed down. If they don't play him 25 mins a night and keep him at 20-22, he'll be fine.

He would have gotten 6+ on the market.

[Alfie11]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

He would have gotten 6+ on the market.

How do we know this?

[Josh]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

Well we obviously can't know for certain, but history would seem to indicate he would have gotten that on the open market.

[Alfie11]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

I disagree. I think he would have gotten around the same, maybe up to $6M.

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Andrei Markov wants 3 years at 6 million

Because teams always overpay. How weak is the D on the FA market? Markov would have easily gotten 6 - 6.75 from a desperate team depending on term.