Andrei Markov/Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/NHLI
The Montreal Canadiens will be celebrating the career of Andrei Markov on Dec. 3, bringing him back to Bell Centre for a “homecoming” night that many fans have waited years to see. Markov spent 16 seasons in Montreal, played 990 regular-season games, and became one of the most reliable defensemen of his era. His time with the club ended after a contract dispute in 2017 with then-GM Marc Bergevin, but his bond with the city never faded.
Markov says the invitation for this tribute came out of the blue.
“Of course, I’m very happy. It was a surprise,” he said in an exclusive interview with RG. “Two or three months ago, Geoff Molson sent me an email asking if I would be interested in such an event. I agreed right away. It felt really nice to receive a message from the owner of the team. I spent many years in Montreal, and he was at almost every home game, so we spoke quite often.”
Last year, he visited Montreal and even attended a game on Dec. 7th. Before the puck even dropped in that game, the General was quickly reminded just how much Habs fans still appreciated him.
“I still remember how people applauded when they showed me on the screen,” he said.
”Even at the airport, when you’re just walking toward passport control, people turn around and recognize you. It’s very touching. The same thing happens in the city – on the streets, in restaurants. People remember you. I won’t hide it – it feels really good.”
A Younger Canadiens Team and Measured Optimism
This season, he sees signs of real progress from the Canadiens’ young roster.
“I’ve watched a few games and I know their roster. If I’m not mistaken, they’re actually the youngest team in the league. They’re doing well. Fans have been waiting for this kind of exciting hockey for a long time, and the young guys look like they can deliver. You can see they’re hungry, their eyes are burning with energy. It’s great for the players and for the fans who finally get to enjoy this,” he said.
However, Markov has been part of a few failed re-tools in his time with the Canadiens. He’s seen what rushing the process could ultimately do to a team, which is why he stresses patience when it comes to the expectations put on this young core.
“I wouldn’t rush to say they can make a deep playoff run. It’s still the regular season, there’s a long way to go. I hope they stay consistent – every team goes through dips. But even with their recent difficulties, it’s obvious they have a bright future. They’re a young team, and they can only continue to improve.”
The former Canadiens blueliner follows the club whenever he can, spending his time analyzing much of the young core made up of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Noah Dobson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and more.
But it’s fellow left-shot defenseman Lane Hutson that has truly caught his eye.
“He likes to control the puck and skates very well. He’s not tall, but he compensates for it with his movement and the way he sees the ice,” said Markov. “One area he can improve – just like me at his age – is shooting more. He prefers making plays. He’s an interesting player, and I hope he keeps developing.”
Due to his flashy style and offensive ability, Hutson is often compared to a young P.K. Subban.
But, as someone who spent a lot of time playing alongside Subban, Markov laughed at the idea.
“(laughs) Actually, I messaged P.K. recently – maybe we’ll see each other there. It’s hard to compare anyone to him,” added Markov, “He’s a very different player and has a very different personality. I don’t know Hutson personally, so I can only judge from what I see during games. P.K. was always in the spotlight, and he enjoyed it.”
Hutson isn’t the only Canadiens youngster who has drawn comparisons to stars of the past, with Demidov being anointed one of the most talented youngsters the organization has ever seen.
Demidov’s hands and one-on-one ability have garnered comparisons to Alex Kovalev during his time with the Canadiens, but Markov isn’t too sure about that.
“I haven’t been able to watch him much, even when he was in Russia, but it’s obvious he is very talented. You can see he wants to grow, help his team, and get better,” said Markov. “As for comparing him to Kovalev – there are very few players with that kind of talent. And honestly, you shouldn’t compare past generations with the current one. Hockey changes, players change, development systems change. When I was six, I was barely walking on skates along the boards, and my son is already skating backward without a problem. It’s a completely different generation. We weren’t capable of doing what young players can do today at that age.”
Youth In the NHL, Nikishin’s Start & Carolina’s Push
The NHL truly belongs to the youngsters this season, with the likes of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard taking over offensively. Even the Calder Trophy class, which is currently being headed by Matthew Schaefer’s impressive performances on Long Island, is one of the best we’ve seen in years.
For Markov, though, there is another rookie he feels should get more consideration from fans when looking at the top rookies in the NHL.
“I know everyone is talking about Matthew Schaefer from the Islanders, but I don’t know him well. I really like Alexander Nikishin from Carolina. Even last year, I said he would win the Calder,” said Markov. “But everything has to come together: the coach’s trust, good teammates, a strong team, and a bit of luck. There are many great young players this year, but Nikishin’s advantage is that he’s a couple of years older than most rookies and already has experience at the pro level. I believe he was the best defenseman in the KHL before making the jump to the NHL, and he’s already +15, which also says something about his team.”
Markov holds the Carolina Hurricanes in high esteem, even after the restructuring of their roster on defense. In his estimation, they’ve had the roster to go all the way, but simply couldn’t get it done against the powerhouse Florida Panthers.
“People always ask me who will win the Stanley Cup, and for years I’ve been saying it should be Carolina,” added Markov. “But they keep getting stopped by Florida and can’t get to the Finals.”
A Family Man Looking Back at his Legacy
After a pretty exciting NHL career with the Canadiens, Markov now enjoys a calm life with his wife and children. Things are so calm, in fact, that his wife jokes that he should go get a job.
“I’m spending time with my kids. My wife always says, ‘Go work,’ and I’ll say, ‘I don’t want to.’ I enjoy being with my kids,” said Markov, embracing fatherhood. “In my free time I play tennis, then I take my youngest son to practice, and then my daughter does gymnastics. I’m open to work opportunities, but they need to be considered carefully. I have a family, and when I played, I didn’t get to spend much time with them. Kids grow up so fast, and I want to enjoy every moment with them.”
With the Canadiens, it’s not uncommon to see the sons of former players eventually get drafted or suit up for the club down the road, should they excel as hockey players at the amateur level.
Most recently, Aatos Koivu, son of Markov’s former captain, Saku Koivu, was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Canadiens. When asked whether he would be excited if his son were ever to be drafted by or become a member of the Canadiens, Markov gave the perfect father’s answer.
“I would be happy and proud if Montreal drafted my son one day, but it’s too early to talk about that. Let him just enjoy what he does,” said Markov. “I’m against pushing kids or overloading them too early; I don’t like that approach. Children should have a childhood.”
But legacy isn’t simply what you pass down to your children. In Montreal, legacy is also about having your number hanging from the Bell Centre rafters like the many legends of the franchise’s storied past.
For Markov, who spent most of his career avoiding the spotlight, he’s under no illusion that his number would one day be retired by the club.
“That’s pure fantasy. We know the Canadiens’ history – they already have about 20 numbers retired. The guys don’t even know which numbers to choose anymore,” said Markov. “I never think about it. I’m grateful for what will happen on December 3. I’m taking my family with me so they can remember it. That’s good enough for me.”
He also shared one memory that still moves him — a small, almost cinematic moment that revealed the human side of hockey greatness. It came during a difficult stretch in his recovery, a time when frustration and restlessness were starting to outweigh patience.
Markov was nursing a knee injury, stuck in that uneasy limbo between wanting to train and being told to rest. It was summer in Canada — long weekends, quiet rinks, and not a lot of options for someone desperate to keep working. What happened next, he says, changed how he viewed leadership and mentorship forever.
“It was summertime, and I was recovering from a knee injury,” Markov says. “I really wanted to train, but in Canada it feels like every second weekend is a long weekend. Everything was closed, everyone was gone. I was standing there arguing with the staff, trying to find a way to work out.”
Then Bob Gainey walked up behind and asked him what was going on.
“I told him, ‘I want to train, but it’s a long weekend and nobody is here.’ He didn’t say much — Bob never wastes words,” continued Markov. “He took out a piece of paper, wrote down his address, and said, ‘You’re coming to my place this weekend.’
It was a discreet, yet meaningful act, that left Markov completely floored.
“I was shocked. It’s Bob Gainey, he’s a legend. But, I did the four-and-a-half-hour drive to his place near Peterborough and, when I got there, he welcomed me like family,” recalled Markov.
“He had a house on a lake — beautiful, peaceful. We grilled some meat, had a couple of beers, later some red wine. We sat outside by the water for hours just talking .He shared stories from his career, from Montreal, from life. I shared some of mine. It was simple, but unforgettable. I didn’t expect someone like him to open his home like that. It meant a lot to me.”
Markov will return to Montreal now not as a player, but as someone the city remembers with warmth. His connection to the fans, the club, and its past remains strong. The ceremony on Dec. 3 will give both sides a chance to acknowledge that bond once again.
