With Andrei Markov signed, Habs GM Marc Bergevin can now focus on P.K. Subban.
Canadiens GM signs Markov to three-year deal
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin got a jump start on a busy week when he collected Andrei Markov’s signature on a three-year contract Monday.
The veteran defenceman was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but, as was the case on three previous occasions, Markov agreed to terms with the Canadiens before hitting the open market.
“It feels like home,” said Markov, who broke into the National Hockey League with the Canadiens in 2000, two years after he was selected in the sixth round (162nd overall) of the draft.
The 35-year-old Markov said he was a little nervous as the July 1 deadline approached, but added he was happy to remain in Montreal. The sticking point in the negotiations was the length of the contract, but Bergevin relented and gave Markov the three seasons he wanted, along with $17.25 million. That represents an annual cap hit of $5.75 million, which is the same money Markov has been making since the 2007-08 season.
The Markov deal carries a bit of a risk because he has undergone three knee surgeries, but he played all 48 games in the strike-shortened 201213 season after starting the season in the Kontinental Hockey League and missed only one game last season, when he scored seven goals and added 36 assists. Markov led the Canadiens in ice time with an average of 25:14 a game and was a team-best plus-12. He also had a goal and nine assists in 17 playoff games and represented his native Russia at the Sochi Olympics.
“We are very happy to have secured a long-term agreement with Andrei,” Bergevin said in a statement. “He is an important part of our group of core players. He is healthy, shows a very good work ethic and has great leadership skills. He plays big minutes against the top opponents, and game-changing defencemen of his calibre are hard to find.”
Bergevin was a finalist for General Manager of the Year at the NHL Awards on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, but was beaten out by Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray. Dean Lombardi of the Los Angeles Kings was the third finalist.
Bergevin has 18 players under contract and has about $18.5 million in cap space to fill out his roster. In descending order of importance, here are some the items on his agenda over the next week:
P.K. Subban: The restricted free agent seems to be everywhere these days, from the red carpet at the MMVA awards to the cover of Mac- lean’s magazine. He has become one of the faces of the NHL and one of the most popular players in Montreal.
There were times during the regular season when Subban seemed to be a victim of coach Michel Therrien’s tough-love approach, but the 25-year-old defenceman was one of the keys to the team’s playoff success. Subban’s agent, Don Meehan, told The Gazette’s Dave Stubbs that he would be meeting with Bergevin at the draft this weekend to set the stage for moving contract talks to the next level.
Subban will be properly rewarded and his contract will eat up much of the team’s remaining cap space.
Brian Gionta: The captain wants to come back, and Bergevin and Therrien both value his leadership. The questions are: How much
of a pay cut is Gionta willing to accept and can he live with a one-year deal? An unrestricted free agent, the 35-year-old Gionta might find a better deal on the open market.
Lars Eller: A strong playoff performance might mark the turning point in his career. Eller established himself as a centre and can expect a raise on his $1.5-million salary. He’s a restricted free and will probably be looking for a short-term deal, betting on continued improvement and more leverage as he approaches unrestricted freeagent status.
Mike Weaver: The veteran UFA was a valuable contributor down the stretch and into the playoffs and will serve as an insurance policy if youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi stumble in their development.
Free agency: The market is open for business on July 1, but don’t expect any major deals from the Canadiens now that Markov is in the fold.
Trades: Bergevin is always willing to listen to offers, but prefers to develop from within the organization and is happy with his core. Backup goaltender Peter Budaj, who is in an uncomfortable position with the emergence of Dustin Tokarski, might be moved. The Canadiens could facilitate the deal by taking back some of Budaj’s $1.4-million salary.
The draft: Trevor Timmins and his staff do the heavy lifting in this area, although Bergevin — who has scouting experience — gets the final say. The Canadiens had four of the first 55 picks last June, but their first-round pick Friday night is No. 26 overall and their next pick is No. 87 after they gave up their second-rounder to the New York Islanders in the Thomas Vanek trade.
The Canadiens need size, particularly at forward, and the emphasis will be on choosing character players with potential and then let the team’s development folks take over. The team has a reputation for striking gold in the latter rounds of the draft and that knack will be challenged by a draft pool that is considered to be thin.