By Paulo Cerqueira, Staff Writer,  All Habs Hockey Magazine

MONTREAL, QC. — Today the Montreal Canadiens announced the signing of veteran All-Star defensemen Andrei Markov to a 3-year $5.75 million dollar per year contract extension. In a city like Montreal, and on the eve of a provincial holiday, this news will be what will be talked about in BBQ’s everywhere tomorrow. Sorry to all the soccer fans out there, who will see the World Cup take a step back during the evening sports reports.

Of course this signing will be discussed and argued for the next few days and weeks. Heck, who I am kidding, it will be discussed for the next three years, or however long Markov remains a Hab.

It’s true that Markov is 35 years old. It’s true that he has been injury-prone in the past. It’s true his best years are probably behind him. All that being said, it’s also true that even with losing a step, Andrei still sees the game as well or better than anyone else on the Canadiens roster. It’s true that there isn’t a better upgrade currently in the free market to replace number 79. It’s true that he brings to the Habs lineup, a calming presence and stability when he is being the blue line “General” he is paid to be.

Not many could argue with the money value. It’s the same amount Markov has been making since 2007. In a league where contracts seem to always be going up rather than down, I think it’s safe to say the All-Star defensemen took a hometown discount to stay in Montreal. Yes a three-year contract might be a bit of a risk but did Marc Bergevin really have a choice?

Markov is coming off two very good seasons. A shortened lock out one, but let’s not forget that he spent part of the lockout in the KHL. So it pretty much counts as a full season for the veteran d-man. Add to that last year’s Olympics and long Cup run by the Habs, I think it’s safe to say Markov’s knees have passed the test.

Is he vulnerable to injury? Of course. Could it happen in the next three during the life of this contract? Definitely. Was the risk of not giving him that 3^rd year worth letting him walk away? Not a chance in hell!

Andrei Markov is a Montreal Canadien who was drafted and cultivated by the organization. He is a player who has shown loyalty to a team that for many years didn’t deserve loyalty for the way they treated their players and fans. But besides all that Andrei Markov is still, at the age of 35 and on two wonky knees, an excellent defensemen in the NHL; a defensemen the Habs would have been hard pressed to replace had they let him walk away.

Andrei Markov is the type of player that makes the players around him better. Ask P.K. Subban how he feels about Markov? P.K. is the future of this team on the back-end. It’s a  future that is very bright on the blueline. Along with Nathan Beaulieu, Jarred Tinordi and Greg Pateryn, who all seem to be NHL ready, there are a slew of other high end prospects that will be knocking on the door. That list includes Mac Bennett, Darren Dietz, Magnus Nygren and to lesser extents Dalton Thrower and Morgan Ellis.

So why would an organization not want Markov around to help mold and develop these up and coming kids. At 3- years $5.75 million, it sure seems hard to say no to that.

At the end of the day, in three years this contract will have had the chance to play itself out in a million ways depending on how you look at it. Nay sayers might be playing the “I told you so” card if Markov suffers another devastating injury. Pundits might be yelling “I knew it!” if Markov plays the next three season like he has played the last two.

But on June 23^rd 2014, considering the current status of the Habs roster and the possible UFA’s to hit the free market July 1^st, this is a great signing by Marc Bergevin. It is cap-friendly and it keeps a player in the organization that will have a chance to retire as a Montreal Canadien. It’s something that rarely happens in today’s NHL and was the mark of the great history of the Habs franchise.

This contract is the right price to pay for loyalty!

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