If there is one player who can understand the reality of a Russian player playing for the Montreal Canadiens, it is Andrei Markov. The former defenseman also sees a bright future for young prodigy Ivan Demidov.

During his 16 seasons with the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, the 45-year-old has been a quiet leader of the team. Effective both offensively and defensively, Markov has carved out a niche for himself in Montreal.

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It has been a long time since Switzerland had such a talented Russian athlete as Demidov in its hands. He can be sure that he will receive the necessary support from his famous compatriot.

“Hockey is done differently, you have to help the guys. I am very happy that our Russian player was drafted by one of the biggest clubs in the NHL. He will certainly get his chance. But at the same time, there is a pressure in Montreal that he has to deal with. If he manages to do that, playing in Montreal will be the best memory of his life,” Markov told Match TV (according to a Google translation).

Learning French would be another way to charm the Quebec crowd, believes the Voskresensk native, who played 990 regular season games for the Canadian. Demidov will likely spend another year in Russia with SKA Saint Petersburg before making the jump to North America.

“I think you just have to do your job,” Markov said. “Expectations are high after being selected in the first round, but there’s still a lot of work to do to come out on top. If he keeps working, he’s going to have a great future.”

Let’s say the discreet Markov was much less in the spotlight during his own draft session in 1998. His name was called in the sixth round, but that didn’t stop him from establishing himself as one of the best guards of his generation.

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