Montreal Canadiens news and notes:
- After 16 seasons, Andrei Markov will not be returning to the Montreal Canadiens. [NHL.com | EOTP]
- The veteran blueliner will join Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL. [TSN]
- Markov made the decision for family reasons after the Canadiens wanted to delay contract negotiations until September or October. [EOTP]
- The breakdown in negotiations came with shock and confusion. [Twitter]/
Sometimes things don’t make sense. Markov wanted to stay with Canadiens, said he was willing to take 1-year deal. Why isn’t he back?
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) July 27, 2017
Get sense MON wanted to wait until Sept/Oct to see what could happen. No doubt Bergevin wants to try…something…with cap space https://t.co/KPBks2Mzjj
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 27, 2017
- Larry Robinson was full of praise for Markov. [NHL.com – Dave Stubbs]
- Markov’s departure puts the Habs in a difficult situation. [Sportsnet – Eric Engels]
- The Canadiens have serious problems now finding someone to launch their offence. [RDS.ca – Gaston Therrien]
- Arpon Basu is puzzled at how Markov left on someone else’s terms. [NHL.com – Basu]
- One of Markov’s former defence partners weighed in on the news. [Arpon Basu]/
I spoke to Markov’s old defence partner and wedding attendee P.K. Subban to get his reaction and this is what he said. pic.twitter.com/qCUgLmgVVw
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) July 28, 2017
- John Lu thinks that this day was avoidable. [Twitter – Lu]/
Most memorable Markov moment: Becoming a Canadian citizen. He loved Montreal, loved the #Habs and wanted to stay. Parting was avoidable.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) July 27, 2017
- The Habs are making a smart bet on Ales Hemsky. [TSN – Travis Yost]/
Around the league and elsewhere:
- Frölunda has extended European Coach of the Year Roger Rönnberg until 2022. [Patrik Bexell]/
Frölunda HC agrees to terms with Joel Lundqvist until 2020, and Coach Rönnberg to 2022… WOW! https://t.co/5dnoxJtp80
— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) July 27, 2017
- Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, and Mike Fisher have been contacted regarding potential Olympic participation with Team Canada. [TSN]
- The Minnesota Wild are looking at long-term deals for RFAs Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund. [TSN]
- Hayley Wickenheiser is challenging NHL players to speak up about their Olympic desires. [TSN]
- Adidas is selling CCM to Toronto-based Birch Hill Equity Partners for $110 million. [Sportsnet]
- Former Hab Dwight King is heading to the KHL. [Rick Dhaliwal]/
Hearing UFA forward Dwight King will be signing in the KHL. #Canucks showed mild interest.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) July 27, 2017
