Markov still hopeful he’ll be on the ice this season
WASHINGTON – It was a day of firsts for Andrei Markov.
For the first time since Dec. 5, when he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, Markov was on his ice with his teammates.
And for the first time since Dec. 5, the Canadiens’ defenceman talked to the media about his rehabilitation and his plans for the future.
“It feels great,” Markov said as he wiped the sweat off his shaved head. “It’s a long time I didn’t practise with the team. I feel good and I’m happy to be back.”
Markov said he isn’t experiencing any pain, but he said there’s no timeline for his return to NHL game action. When asked if he expected to return before the end of the season, he replied: “That’s my goal. I can’t tell you the exact time or date, but I’ll try to push hard. I feel better every day.”
Markov has been skating for several weeks under the watchful eyes of personal trainer Scott Livingston and the Canadiens’ training staff. The next step in his progress will be to experience some contact in practice.
“I have to try a full-contact practice,” he said. “I feel pretty good on the ice right now. As soon as I feel like I’m ready to play, I’ll play.”
Markov was one of the best in the game before his injury and he was asked whether he would be as good when he returned.
“You never know, maybe I’ll be better,” he said. “I’m going to try to be better. It’s a tough recovery for me. I don’t want to play just one game and have another injury or surgery or whatever. I want to continue to play and play a full season and be healthy.”
The cold reality is that the Canadiens need to see Markov back on the ice so that they can make plans for the future. If the knee doesn’t hold up or the rust has affected his game, finding another experienced, top-four defenceman becomes an offseason priority.
Markov injured the right knee in the 2010 playoffs and Anthony Minachi performed surgery in Cleveland on May 19, 2010. Markov returned to the lineup in November 2010, but played only eight games before he reinjured his knee. James Andrews performed a second reconstructive surgery on Dec. 8, 2010.
Markov was pencilled in for a return to the lineup in early December when the Canadiens were in California, but he was experiencing swell- ing and discomfort. A visit to the Kerlan-jobe clinic in Los Angeles led to a recommendation that he undergo the arthroscopy to “remove some debris.” Andrews performed the procedure on Dec. 5.
The original prognosis was that Markov would be out an additional 3-5 weeks, but it’s coming up on three months.
“Nobody pushed me to get back early,” Markov said. “They gave me time to recover and be 100 per cent. If you step on the ice, you have to be able to give 100 per cent every night. I don’t want to play at 75 per cent. I want to give my best.”