In June 1998, GM Réjean Houle hit a huge home run at Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo by drafting defenseman Andreï Markov in the 6th round, 162nd overall. You may not know it today, but the former number 79 is one of the best scorers in Montreal Canadiens history and it’s time for the organization to give him the ultimate honor.

On April 22, 2017, Andreï Markov had no idea that he had just played his last game in a Canadian uniform after a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Although he failed to get on the scoresheet, he finished with a +1 difference.

In the 2016-17 season, the defenseman collected 36 points in 62 games. Although he was only 10 games away from reaching his 1,000th game in a Habs jersey, GM Marc Bergevin instead decided to turn his back on him and not offer him a contract.

Markov therefore left the beautiful province in a mysterious fog, which sowed resentment and incomprehension among the club’s supporters. How could this great love story between number 79 and Montreal end so abruptly?

The Russian native from Voskresensk has scored 119 goals and 572 points in 990 NHL games and has been one of the best scorers among NHL defenders for 30 years.

I think it’s time for the Canadian to clean up the mess and retire his number 79. What if we saw Andrei Markov in numbers?

Andreï Markov has scored a total of 119 goals and 572 points in 990 games in the NHL.

Andreï Markov is the second-leading scorer among defensemen in the history of the Montreal Canadiens, tied with Guy Lapointe. Only Larry Robinson is ahead of them.

Andreï Markov is the second most played defenseman in Habs history behind Larry Robinson and ranks 6th among all players.

Andreï Markov is the third best goalscorer in the club’s history among defenders after Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe.

Andreï Markov is the second-leading power play scorer among defensemen in Canadian history with 60 goals. Larry Robinson leads with just 5 more goals.

With 294 points, Andreï Markov is the best scorer in the club’s history in the power play among the defensemen.

As they say, the numbers speak for themselves. In the 2024/25 season, he will have made his NHL debut almost 25 years ago.

General Markov deserves this honor.