Burke the Legend
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2012
- 8,318
- 2,853
what is wrong with people? Markov WAS a great d man but he has slowed down. many time last year I saw teams bounce the puck of the side boards in a planned play to catch Markov and force him to turn and try to get to the puck BEFORE a racing wing man blasted right by him to get the puck FIRST and now be on a line right to Price. Markov got caught a dozen times last year and the words was out on him. Yes he was forced to play well back to counter this move but that also Is a bad idea and the Habs lost the puck many time due to this, this was NOT going to improve for this year at all might even got worse. It was time to change. Still a good damn but not a 6mil x 2. Sometimes you just have to face the music.
Some sanity here, I loved him but people are just completely ignoring the dude is turning 39. The Rangers targeted him hard too in the playoff series with chips and soft dumps past him. Yes he can still make a nice pass but could not handle NHL speed 210lb forwards anymore and that wasn't going to get any better.
Age caught up with him. Paying him a premium 5-6$ million contract would be crazy. Unlike a guy in a similar situation (Streit) he had too much pride to take a massive pay cut and accept a role as 7-8th D-man.