Do you consider Andrei Markov injury prone ?

[Blind Gardien]

PK Subban is playing the best hockey of his career.

Better than his Norris season.

He's playing against the top line and in every situation. (including Penalty kill)

This, but it has really only been the last month or so where all aspects of his game have been at peak Norris level.

I'd say the first month or two this season, Markov was better (just a little, though). Then a convergence for the next couple months while Markov settled back down and Subban started to get it going. Now Subban is hands down best (and not by just a little).

Markov was as good as PK last season also (although a lot of that carries Therrien utilization-bias in it... he's not really "as good", but he contributed as much and was as effective due to the way they were deployed).

 

[JayKing]

Why? Are we not allowed to point a finger on Subban's weaknesses? He has some. Mostly on the defensive side still.

Because Subban is much better than Markov. Simple as that.

 

[hototogisu]

Markov is hard to hit.

Except for that stretch where every hit he took put him on the shelf for 6 months

But it's kind of weird, he's turned into something of an iron man since the lockout. Only missed 1 game across three seasons, including playoffs.

 

[jpchabby]

Except for that stretch where every hit he took put him on the shelf for 6 months

But it's kind of weird, he's turned into something of an iron man since the lockout. Only missed 1 game across three seasons, including playoffs.

Indeed. It seems like he just suffered from 3 freak major injuries... And then, everything went back to normal

Sincerely, it's a relief... Even now, I'm always scared he's gonna get crunched then grab his knee in pain...

 

[kovalev47]

Why? Are we not allowed to point a finger on Subban's weaknesses? He has some. Mostly on the defensive side still.

I disagree. Most of Subban's defensive problems happen because Montreal can't create many quality offensive chances without him. That's why Subban sometimes takes more risks than the other defenseman on the Habs. On a different team he would have more points and much fewer defensive problems. I think without Subban, the Habs would miss the playoff. He's the Hab's MVP.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Please rename: Do you consider Markov, better than PK ?

 

[Nicko999]

Simply not true, Markov is still a top pairing dmen but he simply can't carry anyone, when Subban was paired with Gorges, Markov was playing with Emelin, and they had their good games but also their struggles.

Subban was done just fine without Markov but Therrien put them together to make it easier for Markov.

Markov 24-25 minutes playing with Subban has become a lot easier than his 24-24mins playing with guys like Emelin

Anyone would struggle to play with Emelin, he's a pylon (except vs the Bruins where he becomes a hitting machine). At least Gorges was reliable defensively so Subban could do his thing.

It's good that way now. Both Markov and Subban compliment each other perfectly.

 

[Lebowski]

Better defensively by far than Subban. Could have lost some speed but damn he is smart and effective like Lidström was.

Subban has been our best defensive defenseman this season.

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Subban has been our best defensive defenseman this season.

Yup easily....everyone rewatch the last 2 minutes of the Bruins game he shut them down it was crazy

 

[FRUSTRATEDPENFAN*]

No he's not. This really needs to stop.

You need to stop because Markov is the better of the two. Subban is a total screw up out there at times

 

[Nynja*]

You need to stop because Markov is the better of the two. Subban is a total screw up out there at times

Thats a byproduct of Markov also being slower, he has to rely more on his IQ and making the calculated plays. Subban has always played high risk, high reward, except Subban usually successfully makes those riskier plays.

 

[Blind Gardien]

You need to stop because Markov is the better of the two. Subban is a total screw up out there at times

Subban is far more effective defensively overall. Markov is smart, he has positioning if he gets the time, is really good with his stick, but he's fundamentally always limited by speed and physicality. Subban can win the battles a variety of ways. He isn't as smart, but he more than makes up for it by just being more physically capable.

You really have to watch the latest play of Subban to understand this, though. In snapshots last season and early this season, Subban did have some struggles. But we've seen enough in the recent stretch, and in previous seasons to categorically state, without doubt, that Subban can be the Habs' best defensive defenseman. He has been for the last couple months, and has been in previous seasons. As long as Therrien isn't actively trying to "fix" him, basically, he excels in his own zone.

Markov has taken a few awkward spills in the last couple seasons too. A couple times I held my breath and thought, oh crap, this is another knee blowout or something. There was one bad fall where it looked like he really bent the knee around at an ugly angle, forget which game, but I was terrified. But he has survived these. So, on topic, he certainly had some major injury issues in the past. But has been very resilient recently, so it's a matter of semantics/subjective interpretation really if you want to call him "injury prone". He "was injured" for 2.5 seasons, and has been totally fine for the last 3. It's not really a pattern.

 

[CanadienShark]

Doesn't seem to be. Seems like he's got a lot left in the tank too.

 

[radicalcenter]

Better defensively by far than Subban. Could have lost some speed but damn he is smart and effective like Lidström was.

Loll

Subban is by far the best of the two defensively

 

[sansabri]

knock on wood.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

If he wasn't doing that in his Norris winning season, that really says a lot about the award.

Perfect example of disingenuity...

 

[Wats]

Why? Are we not allowed to point a finger on Subban's weaknesses? He has some. Mostly on the defensive side still.

Actually it's mostly on getting shots through to the net while being heavily covered. I'd say that's easily his glaring weakness right now. Defensively he's been a stud as usual.

He makes mistakes like any D. So does Markov (more glaring since he usually can't get back to make up for it). Usually they cover each other pretty well. Good pairing, having two great top pairing D and an elite starter is a big reason why Habs are where they are in the standings.

 

[radicalcenter]

Why? Are we not allowed to point a finger on Subban's weaknesses? He has some. Mostly on the defensive side still.

Sure you can but don't make things up

Subban is rock solid defensively

His biggest weaknesses are that he takes too many stupid penalties (it's been getting better lately though) and when he shots from the point most of the time he either misses the net or his shot gets block.

 

[Vern]

If he wasn't doing that in his Norris winning season, that really says a lot about the award.

norris is for the defencemen who plays the best, not the player who is most utilized by his coach

 

[FLYLine27*]

Eh...I guess I did until this thread. Glad to see he has been healthy.

 

[Jerk Store*]

Hmmm all I see is Subban discussion... But to answer the OP, I don't think he's injury prone. He had a major one that slowed him down considerably, but he's still a very good defenseman.

 

[Nicko999]

What a pass on the GW goal.

 

[Kunta Kinte]

Yeah I dunno why It turned into a PK Subban thread. Habs fans I guess.

 

[Nicko999]

I know we had 3 and a half minutes of OT but Markov played 29:45 min tonight and assisted on the GW goal. Not bad for a 36 years old.

 

[Classicnamesup]

He is injury prone because he rarely plays a full season. I consider Crosby injury prone and they have similar gp recently (although Markov blows him out of the water the last couple years)