With Andrej Sekera on the shelf until at least November, the Oilers could be in the market for a short-term solution on the left side of their second pairing. The obvious solution is re-signing Kris Russell, but in the event that isn’t possible, there are a number of veterans on the market who could fill the void.
At best Sekera is back in November, but at worst he could be out until February, meaning Edmonton would have to go most of the season without the steady veteran. Sure, it may only be a few weeks, but I believe that the Oilers should prepare for the worst and cover themselves. Honestly, you can never have enough defenders.
Would veteran free agent Andrei Markov, a mainstay for years in Montreal, be a fit one a one or two year deal with the club?
Why Is He Out There?:
The Canadiens are about to undergo a bit of a roster transition under Claude Julien, who took over as coach in February. Julien likes a heavier and more defensively responsible roster of forwards and a consistent, dependable backend. While Markov fits the bill, there are reasons to believe that he could be a casualty of change.
Montreal needs money to go big game hunting up front this summer, as their glaring need for a center was their downfall in the postseason. On top of that, young defenders Noah Juulsen and Mikhail Sergachev are both pushing for NHL time and will need roster spots in the very near future, potentially next season.
The Habs could allow Markov to walk this July, opening up $5.75 million on the cap.
What Does He Do Well?:
Andrei Markov might be 38 years old, but he can still log big minutes on the backend. This past season, the veteran averaged 21:50 TOI per game and was one of Montreal’s best defenders. He played on the powerplay and posted boxcars of 6-30-36, which prove he is still a capable offensive defender.
Markov is described as being “smooth and smart under pressure” by The Hockey News and is a strong puck mover. He’s a strong passer and has the ability to effectively carry the puck up ice as well, making him a very valuable commodity.
Lastly, Markov possesses a strong shot and has routinely been one of Montreal’s top options on the powerplay. He’d help Edmonton in this area as well.
Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play?:
Markov is no longer the top-pairing defender that he once was, but 2016-17 proved that he is still an effective top-four defender at the NHL level. He averaged over 20 minutes a night in Montreal last season and was effective almost the entire time. For all intents and purposes, he was the Habs’ number three defender and filled the role quite well.
In Edmonton, he’d likely fill that same spot while Andrej Sekera is on the shelf, handling the left side duties on the second-pairing. It’s possible that Edmonton shifts Sekera to the right side upon return, or Markov could shift over if Sekera is more comfortable on the left. Either way, Markov should be slotted properly in Edmonton.
What Will He Cost?:
Markov is 38 and coming off a three-year deal that paid him $5.75 million per season. In fact, stretching over his last three contracts going all the way back to 2007-08, Markov has made $5.75 million in each of the last nine seasons. If he leaves Montreal, it is going to have to be for a pay cut.
Would Markov sign a one-year deal wroth $4 million with the Oilers? I think that is more than proper compensation for Markov and benefits the Oilers in the sense that the deal won’t be on the books when Connor McDavid’s contract kicks in next July.
Closing Argument:
If Kris Russell prices himself out of Edmonton, then the Oilers will be in the market for at least one, if not two, veteran defenders. Markov isn’t a sexy name and he is not a long-term solution, but he could be helpful next season, especially with Andrej Sekera on the shelf for at least the first month and a half of the season.
On a short-term (think one year) deal, Markov could provide exceptional value to the Oilers. Instead of giving up major assets, perhaps Oiler GM Peter Chiarelli should pursue a veteran option like Markov to bridge the gap from now until prospects like Ethan Bear are ready for the show.
Personally, I’d be in favor of a contract for Andrei Markov.
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