tommyv Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Or Ovechkin saying Markov was the hardest defenceman to play against Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Or Ovechkin saying Markov was the hardest defenceman to play against Not wanting to take anything away from Markov here, but Ovechkin and Markov are good friends. Add the fact that he hasn't played against the western conference much and you have a pretty dilluted quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyv Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 True, he could just be saying that, but the fact still is that whether he is or isn't the "Hardest" to play against, he is still on Ovechkin's "Hard to play against" list, whether it be the most or not, still says alot coming from A guy who you are friends with, train with, play against alot, and still he can't find a way to beat your style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-1 Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Found a nice Markov article on the Habs' website. Just thought I'd share it ------------ Armed with a new four-year contract, Andrei Markov is ready for a new season. Coming off a career-high 49 points in 2006-07, the 28-year-old Russian defenseman took the time during a recent stop in Montreal to answer some questions. Why No. 79? That was given to me when I first started. Why do you wear No. 52 in international tournaments? I would have worn 79 but that was already taken. When I was younger and played for Dynamo, I wore No. 25. Someone on the national team had that number so I just switched the numbers around. Toughest player to defend against? I’d have to say Jagr. Besides Alexander Ovechkin, who are some of your other NHL friends? Maxim Afinogenov and I know Frolov from Los Angeles, even though we’ve barely played against each other. There are others but it’s hard to think of all of them. (laughs) What’s surprised you the most about Montreal? How much the fans love the team and how full the building always is. What’s your favorite team to play against and why? I love playing against Toronto and Boston. It’s a good atmosphere and I get a good feeling when we play them. What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t gotten around to yet? I’d like to be better at tennis, but it’s much harder than hockey. Once you make a mistake, that’s it, there’s nothing you can do and your teammates aren’t there to help you.. I enjoy watching it. If I see it on TV, I’ll sit down and watch. Who’s your favorite tennis player to watch? I love watching Roger Federer, but I’m more of a baseline player myself. I definitely can’t go to the net like him. Are you in touch with any former teammates? I still speak to [Oleg] Petrov. There are also guys I used to play with in Russia that I’m still in touch with. What are some of your favorite places you’ve traveled to? I really like going to New York and I like pretty much anywhere I’ve been within Canada. Any other sports you like to watch besides hockey and tennis? I follow soccer, too. I like to watch the Champions League. What’s your take on David Beckham soon making his MLS debut with Los Angeles? I think he’s still a good player, but him coming to North America is more of a publicity stunt than anything else. Have you thought of asking owner George Gillett for tickets to go see Liverpool play? No, I wouldn’t ever ask him for tickets. But if he ever invited me I would go for sure! http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect...newsItemID=6022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Found a nice Markov article on the Habs' website. Just thought I'd share it You mean like this one? Spotlight on... Andrei Markov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-1 Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 You mean like this one? Oh dang, you got me. I scrolled through the last 2 pages but didn't see anything like it so I posted it. Guess that I scroll too fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest d80jcrant Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 That is funny, In the Markov interview he said he is still friends with Oleg Petrov and talks to him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 He's the right kind of player for our environment: he likes the pressure and gets a kick out of the full buildings and rabid fans. We have to attract more players like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 He's the right kind of player for our environment: he likes the pressure and gets a kick out of the full buildings and rabid fans. We have to attract more players like him. I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habby00 Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. Agreed. For the past few years, no one has been harping him, but now that he commands such a huge contract, some will expect miracles from him and he'll get the occasional wisecrack that he's not used to. How will he respond will be interesting to see. I am guessing it will go in in one ear and out the other, and markov can simply focus on playing solid hockey, i hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. I think that playing his game on ice and staying low profile off the ice contributes a lot to that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. Agreed. He just has to stick to his game and not think about his contract on the ice. No one's expecting him to become Chris Pronger. If he turns in another season like last season, I'll be satisfied. A few more assists would be nice, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bigsby Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. i'm praying with you. i hope he's prepared for what's coming next year... if i could, i would tell him to keep his head down, play his game, ignore the negative comments and offer some stock quotes here and there to keep the fans happy. i hope most fans will appreciate that he wanted to stay and give him room to improve and make mistakes. without souray i think we'll see a better offensive game from him - but he'll need players to play with like he did at the worlds and fans who aren't waiting to bring him down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shamrun Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Agreed. He just has to stick to his game and not think about his contract on the ice. No one's expecting him to become Chris Pronger. If he turns in another season like last season, I'll be satisfied. A few more assists would be nice, though. last year the plan was to give Souray more responsability (from the get-go), this year carbeau said that Markov will have to play more minutes to compensate for the lost of Souray. So he will be getting more assists "On va commencer à préparer le camp d’entraînement, à établir les tactiques pour remplacer Sheldon. Quand tu perds un gars comme ça, ça donne un peu plus de place pour les autres. Il va falloir qu’Andrei Markov prenne un peu plus de place sur le jeu de puissance." source here Im not worried about the team itself, somtimes it takes a good player to leave to see others rise up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I just pray that his new contract doesn't turn fans against him. He's had it pretty easy here compared to some of his teammates. Unless Markov's career flops like we've seen with Kovalev or Samsonov, I doubt that the fans will even remember the contract. It's when production isn't there that the salary becomes an issue. I doubt that Markov's salary becomes the focus just because of his style of play. The step isn't too high in his case. It would have been much higher for Souray for example as the judgement would have been based on tangibles, as in goals, assists and points. Not so much the case with Markov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sportsfreak_39 Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 One thign I want to see this here without Souray now is Markov to use his shot, it isn't a huge rocket but he has a decent shot but he always focuses on passing it off(which has never been a terrible thing) but he really needs to quarterbaclk the PP now, by putting the threat of pass or shot in the oppoenets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 One thign I want to see this here without Souray now is Markov to use his shot, it isn't a huge rocket but he has a decent shot but he always focuses on passing it off(which has never been a terrible thing) but he really needs to quarterbaclk the PP now, by putting the threat of pass or shot in the oppoenets. Agreed. His shot is actually very underrated, mainly because with Souray on the other point, he wasn't using it much, and who could blame him? But this year he'll have to start shooting to get that 'play action' dynamic going. In football, if you're always handing off to the running back, enemy defenses will start swarming the runner. So you set up the run with handoffs but then break defensive tendencies by faking the handoff and swinging a short pass to an open receiver. This way, you put the defense in a bind because you aren't predictable: they won't know if you're going to hand off the ball for real or if you're running play action, and that makes them less effective. Similarly, if Markov is always passing at the point, enemy PKers will stop respecting the point shot and just collapse down in the slot to shut down the forwards. If Markov starts making them pay by drifting in after they've collapsed and wiring a few bullets for goals, it will open up room for our forwards down low and keep our PP less predictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 Unless Markov's career flops like we've seen with Kovalev or Samsonov, I doubt that the fans will even remember the contract. It's when production isn't there that the salary becomes an issue. I doubt that Markov's salary becomes the focus just because of his style of play. The step isn't too high in his case. It would have been much higher for Souray for example as the judgement would have been based on tangibles, as in goals, assists and points. Not so much the case with Markov. Hopefully you're right, but Montreal fans never cease to amaze me (see Koivu and Ryder ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 last year the plan was to give Souray more responsability (from the get-go), this year carbeau said that Markov will have to play more minutes to compensate for the lost of Souray. So he will be getting more assists "On va commencer à préparer le camp d’entraînement, à établir les tactiques pour remplacer Sheldon. Quand tu perds un gars comme ça, ça donne un peu plus de place pour les autres. Il va falloir qu’Andrei Markov prenne un peu plus de place sur le jeu de puissance." source here Im not worried about the team itself, somtimes it takes a good player to leave to see others rise up. Interesting, increased icetime combined with a more consistant season could make Markov a true #1 defensman in this league. I doubt he'll ever be elite, but who knows, he was only 13 points short of Lidstrom last season, and he has the package to play at Lidstroms level (he'll never be Pronger just because he's missing the physical aspect), but he really needs to put it all together and not have any stretches where he plays below his level. I'm not expecting huge improvements from Markov, but I think there's still some room for him to get even better. However, one area he needs to prove if he ever gets attention from the league as a whole is his +/-. The team as a whole has got to fix up that even strength goals for - goals against differential if Markov's stats are too improve. I think this offseason has really shown me that I really like this guy, he's probably along with Koivu my favourite player on the team. I'm not normally one to follow any individual player,s if it makes sense for the team I'd trade anyone (I like Huet, but if we have to trade him at some point, so be it), but I'm just really hoping for Markov to succeed probably more than anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 Hopefully you're right, but Montreal fans never cease to amaze me (see Koivu and Ryder ) You got me there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Keith Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 However, one area he needs to prove if he ever gets attention from the league as a whole is his +/-. The team as a whole has got to fix up that even strength goals for - goals against differential if Markov's stats are too improve. If anything, it shows how responsible he is defensively to have a difference of 20 or so with every other Habs starter. When the whole team and system picks it up, his plus/minus will probably be scary-good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 If anything, it shows how responsible he is defensively to have a difference of 20 or so with every other Habs starter. When the whole team and system picks it up, his plus/minus will probably be scary-good. Oh I know that, you know that, I'm just saying if he's ever to get all star consideration, or maybe even some day (and this is a bit of a stretch, but) Norris consideration, he'll need to get a better +/-, but that will involve the team as a whole raising their even strength play and Markov's number should naturally rise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 If anything, it shows how responsible he is defensively to have a difference of 20 or so with every other Habs starter. When the whole team and system picks it up, his plus/minus will probably be scary-good. Quoted for truth. It's easy to have a gaudy plus-minus when you have cadres of elite scorers on your team and you get a plus for being a warm breathing body on the ice when they score. Not so easy when your team's second-highest point-getter is a defenseman and nobody can put the puck in the net at even strength! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Quoted for truth. It's easy to have a gaudy plus-minus when you have cadres of elite scorers on your team and you get a plus for being a warm breathing body on the ice when they score. Not so easy when your team's second-highest point-getter is a defenseman and nobody can put the puck in the net at even strength! Just to clarify, I agree completely with this. I was just pointing out that his +/- needs to go up before the league takes him seriously (not that it will make any difference to us on the ice, but it would be nice to see him get a bit more respect). Or put another way, if Lidstrom was on Montreal last season, and Markov was on Detroit, I think we'd see a bit of a difference in Norris voting (not trying to say Markov is better than Lidstrom by any means, just that a strong team makes individual players look a lot better) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourtrax Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Just to clarify, I agree completely with this. I was just pointing out that his +/- needs to go up before the league takes him seriously (not that it will make any difference to us on the ice, but it would be nice to see him get a bit more respect). Or put another way, if Lidstrom was on Montreal last season, and Markov was on Detroit, I think we'd see a bit of a difference in Norris voting (not trying to say Markov is better than Lidstrom by any means, just that a strong team makes individual players look a lot better) Oh yeah, Graeme, don't worry, I totally understood your point. And I agree that Markov's plus-minus is going to have to look a LOT better for him to merit Norris Trophy consideration, regardless of how good his team is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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