he should go back to russia with all the other money-hungry russians

Posted by DRW on 08/27/07 at 01:20 PM ET

Supposedly the Penguins have a 2 year deal for $2.5 million (or $2.7 million, depending on the source) on the table right now.

It’s been on Mark Madden’s radio show, not always the bastien of credibility though.  But, just sayin’.

Posted by maybe pittsburgh on 08/27/07 at 02:00 PM ET

That’s $2.5 million a season, if it wasn’t apparant.

Posted by err on 08/27/07 at 02:00 PM ET

What this article fails to mention is who his defensive partner was last year.

Posted by Heaton on 08/27/07 at 02:37 PM ET

Well played, Heaton.

Posted by Nathan on 08/27/07 at 02:39 PM ET

What Heaton said. Anybody remember how Lilja looked two years ago? So Markov had a nice season playing on the top pair with Lidstrom. Big deal. Pretty much any 3-4-5-6 D-man in the leauge would have a career year in the same spot.

I’ll miss Markov’s grit, but I won’t miss the boneheaded plays he’d make every few games to give up golden scoring chances for the other team. If Markov is truly as good as he seems to think he is, it stands to reason he wouldn’t be shopping around for his what--seventh team?

Posted by shep from california on 08/27/07 at 03:21 PM ET

Markov is well known for his hardball, (I’m going to stay in Russia unless I get more money), negotiation tactics.  He did the same thing with the Canes during the offseason when he was with us.  He can be a tenacious player, but one gets tired of these tactics time after time.

Posted by Bubba from Raleigh, NC on 08/27/07 at 03:26 PM ET

The comments about Markov’s “bonehead plays” and “negotiation tactics” seem rather absurd. Everyone makes bonehead plays once in a while. From what I recall even Lidstrom made a few mistakes in the playoffs last year. Mistakes that lead to a couple goals for the other teams. Should the Wings pass on Lidstrom next year for those bonehead plays?

And why is wrong for Markov/his agent to ask for more money? Markov was outstanding last year for Detroit. He was one of the few players (along with Cleary) who gave 110% every shift of every game.  The Wings need more of that.

And other than maybe Maltby, Markov was Detroit’s only consistent agitator. He forced a lot of players on opposing teams into taking bad penalties with his in your face style of play...while taking very few penalties himself - especially considering how he plays. And while playing with Lidstrom will help anyone, Lidstrom can’t be given credit for Markov’s style. Nor can he be given credit for what that style of play brought to the team.

Markov was a good fit with Detroit and should have been resigned long ago. It’s unbelieveable the Wings haven’t offered him at least a little more, and even more unbelieveable no one else has signed him. Maybehe should play in Russia for a team/"fans" that will give him the respect he deserves/earns.

Posted by John from Michigan on 08/27/07 at 05:38 PM ET

Prediction

If the pens sign him, he will be a minus player.  And that will be the proof he’s not worth 3.5 mil/year.

And Zetterberg gave 1000% last year as did everyone in the organization.  That’s why they are great year after year...and Nick Lid.

Posted by DrW on 08/27/07 at 05:45 PM ET

Uhhhh why?

Where do the Panthers suddenly have a need for Danny Markov on defense? We already have Ruslan Salei and Slava Mezei, two guys who are basically the same type of stay at home, hard hitting defenseman.

Sometimes I wonder if these people think before they write. There isn’t a need for a defenseman on this team.

Posted by panthersfan from Miami on 08/27/07 at 07:17 PM ET

John--Markov definitely ahd a good season on his own, though playing with Nick certainly helped, but Holland’s constrained by his own cap issues.  The Wings are paying Datsyuk $6.7 million, Kronwall $3 million, and Hasek $2.5 million this season, and those salaries--100% raises for Datsyuk and Kronwall, and about four times more salary for Hasek---as well as Rafalski’s $6 million, effectively wash out the departures of Calder (two months of his $2.95 million deal), Lang ($3.8 million), Schneider ($3.3 million), and Bertuzzi (one month of $5.2 million). 

Markov initially wanted a long-term deal at the going rate for a top-four guy who can play 25 minutes, at or around $4-5 million U.S., and even if he’s dropped his demands to $3.5 million, a three or four year deal at that price doesn’t make financial sense for a team that’s both trying to carve out some cap space to extend Henrik Zetterberg, Kris Draper, Dan Cleary, and Nick Lidstrom’s contracts, and is looking to still add a top-six forward to the mix, all with about $5 million in cap space to both add that top-six guy (probably at the deadline) and account for potential injury replacements.

If Markov is willing to take a two-year deal at or around $2.5 million U.S., the Wings will gladly re-sign him.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 08/27/07 at 07:26 PM ET