Canadiens honour longtime defenceman Andrei Markov with ‘special’ tribute

MONTREAL — Eight years after his unceremonious exit, Andrei Markov finally received a proper thank you from the Montreal Canadiens and their fans.

The Bell Centre crowd welcomed Markov with a more than two-minute ovation — and a chorus of “Olé, Olé” chants — as the Canadiens honoured their longtime defenceman with a ceremony before puck drop Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

A tribute video, featuring past teammates José Théodore, Brendan Gallagher, P.K. Subban and Carey Price, and fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, played on the arena’s big screen before the soft-spoken Markov made a speech next to his No. 79 on the ice.

“Oh boy, I’m nervous,” said a visibly emotional Markov, accompanied on the ice by his wife, Sonya, and two of his kids, Vasilisa and Alexander.

“I always believed this is the best place to play hockey.”

Known as “The General,” the six-foot Markov played his entire 16-year NHL career in Montreal, returning to play professionally in Russia in 2017 when he and then-general manager Marc Bergevin failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

At the time, Markov said he didn’t want to play for any other NHL team than Montreal, and so his NHL career ended 10 games short of the 1,000-game plateau — a milestone only five players have achieved solely with the Canadiens.

While the abrupt ending hurt at the time, Markov says he no longer carries any resentment.

“Right now it’s over already,” Markov said. “When I left Montreal, yes, it was staying in my mind. But right now it’s over. I’m not regret about anything, I’m a lucky person to spend my whole career with a team like Montreal, so I’m happy.”

When Canadiens owner Geoff Molson invited him to a night in his honour roughly three months ago, Markov was caught off guard.

“Never expected that,” he said. “I was surprised to receive the email.

“It’s something special which is gonna stay for the rest of my life.”

The 46-year-old from Voskresensk, Russia, is widely considered one of the best defencemen in the Canadiens’ storied history, his 572 points tied with Guy Lapointe for second all-time among Montreal blue liners.

Markov visited the Bell Centre and his old dressing room stall with his son Tuesday, meeting with the Canadiens’ young Russian star Ivan Demidov. On Wednesday, pictures of his finest moments in a Habs sweater lined the bowels of the building.

“It’s a special place,” he said. “The fans, the city and the people outside of hockey, in the city they’ve always been good to me. I always felt I’m home.”

A sixth-round pick, 162nd overall, in 1998, Markov turned into one of the Canadiens’ draft steals.

He was a two-time all-star, a mainstay on the Canadiens’ top pair and power play, and a steady and cerebral defenceman who elevated his partners, including Sheldon Souray, Mark Streit and Subban.

Subban, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman while paired with Markov in 2013, said the Canadiens’ No. 79 “left an indelible mark on me.”

“Wearing the number 76 jersey was a small tribute, as 6 upside down is 9, symbolizing 79,” he wrote in a social media post Wednesday. “I aimed to mirror his dedication and leadership on the ice. Witnessing Andrei’s devotion as a father, husband, and friend has been inspiring.

“Cheers to the general, tonight and every night!”

Markov averaged 23 minutes of ice time over his career and persevered through several major injuries.

After posting a career-high 64 points in 78 games in 2008-09, ankle and knee injuries limited him to just 20 games through the next two seasons.

Markov, a father of five who became a Canadian citizen in 2010, retired from professional hockey in 2020 after three season’s in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, two with Kazan Ak-Bars and one for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025.