Markov compared to other young PP QB's

[MPLABBE]

I really think Andrei Markov is an underapreciated player here in Montreal.No one seems to talk about him,the coach prefers giving credit to Robidas and Bouillon for keeping the team afloat defensively.When,for no reason,he was a healthy scratch,nobody was even saying a word,No one talks about him in the media,etc.


Well,maybe they should.



Here are his stats compared to other young PP QB's.Guys who have been in the league 1-3 years,just like Markov.

Andrei Markov:30 games,3 goals,13 assists,16 points,-2

Eric Brewer:54 games,5 goals,12 assists,17 points,-10

Andy Delmore:44 games,12 goals,10 assists,22 points,-4

Andrew Ferrence:49 games,1 goal,5 assists,6 points,-2(by the way,I read somewhere this guy is in the young stars game! what a rip off!)

Jiri Fischer:51 games,1 goal,5 assists,6 points,+9

Jeff Jillson:31 games,3 goals,9 assists,12 points,+2

Tomas Kaberle:43 games,5 goals,18 assists,23 points,+2

Pavel Kubina:52 games,3 goals,14 assists,17 points,- 15

Paul Mara:50 games,5 goals,11 assists,16 points,-9

Derek Morris:31 games,1 goals,18 assists,19 points,even

Tom Poti:40 games,1 goal,14 assists,15 points,-8

Martin Skoula:54 games,7 goals,14 assists,21 points,+4

Brad Stuart:52 games,4 goals,17 assists,21 points,+8

David Tanabe:55 games,1 goal,14 assists,15 points,-2


Let's see,Markov outscores 5 of them,and would have outscored most of them if he would have played 50 games.On top of that,some of these guys(Brewer,Poti,Skoula,Kaberle,Stuart,Jillson,Fischer) play on teams that have plenty of firepower,while Markov plays on a team with a mediocre offence.

[Bobs_HABit]

Excellent analysis, MP. I agree 100%. I've been typing as much as I can about this kid on other forums. For some strange reason Hab fans think he makes good trade bait. Personally I think he good be a star in this league for years to come. With regards to the Young guns game is their an age restriction? Andre should definitely be there. To expand on your stats look at his pts/game average, he's one of the best on our entire roster let alone d-man.
I think so highly of the kid that I think we should have gotten a veteran Russian d-man to pair him with in the offseason (Obviously too late now). Hopefully in Berezin he'll find a comrade.

[WhyteKnight63]

Unfotunately, as you all know, there is only one reason why guys like Bouillon and Robidas get all the credit and Markov is forgotten.

Politics. Parti Quebecois. Bloc Quebecois. Separatism. Say it however you want it, until Quebeckers realize they are CANADIANS first and foremost AND that the Habs organization starts acting like a Hockey franchise and not a political extension, we will still be mired in this political nonsense...

Bottom-line is, and I've said it before, Markov  IS NOT FRENCH. As I've previously written, if only his name was Andre Marquis.........

[legaspesien]

Excelent analysis MP

Markov is only 23 he is our future QB

[MPLABBE]

Bobs_HABit said:

Excellent analysis, MP. I agree 100%. I've been typing as much as I can about this kid on other forums. For some strange reason Hab fans think he makes good trade bait. Personally I think he good be a star in this league for years to come. With regards to the Young guns game is their an age restriction? Andre should definitely be there. To expand on your stats look at his pts/game average, he's one of the best on our entire roster let alone d-man.
I think so highly of the kid that I think we should have gotten a veteran Russian d-man to pair him with in the offseason (Obviously too late now). Hopefully in Berezin he'll find a comrade.

Yeah,I also find it weird to see his name in trade proposals alot.I mean,has Hainsey shown he can be a PP QB in this league? the answer is obvious.

As for the young stars game,you have to be 25 and under and on your first pro contract.Markov is 22 and I think he signed a 3 year deal in the summer of 2000.So he should be there.

[MPLABBE]

WhyteKnight63 said:

Unfotunately, as you all know, there is only one reason why guys like Bouillon and Robidas get all the credit and Markov is forgotten.

Politics. Parti Quebecois. Bloc Quebecois. Separatism. Say it however you want it, until Quebeckers realize they are CANADIANS first and foremost AND that the Habs organization starts acting like a Hockey franchise and not a political extension, we will still be mired in this political nonsense...

Bottom-line is, and I've said it before, Markov  IS NOT FRENCH. As I've previously written, if only his name was Andre Marquis.........

I don't buy it.Since when is Craig Rivet french??? since when is Sheldon Souray french??? why do these 2 mediocre d-man get all the respect in the world from the Habs organization,play on the PP,when Markov(like tonight) sits on the bench during a big PP with your team trailing by 2,late in the 1st?


I do agree on one thing,IF Markov was french,the whole media would be in love in this kid,like they are in love with Ribeiro.

[MPLABBE]

Markov gets shafted again.Klesla is out with an injury,so who gets to go to the young guns game??? Paul Mara.Look at the stats for god sakes.It's not even close.

[habzmaniac]

Markov was shafted. I agree with you that he should be there. There's no reason that I can see why. With Brisebois out he's our best offensive defenceman. His totals are right up there with the rest of the defenceman prospects. Injust.

[MPLABBE]

habzmaniac said:

Markov was shafted. I agree with you that he should be there. There's no reason that I can see why. With Brisebois out he's our best offensive defenceman. His totals are right up there with the rest of the defenceman prospects. Injust.

Well,on the other hand,what should we expect when his own coach seems to forget he is on his team.

[Andrew]

Eric Brewer: 54 games,5 goals,12 assists,17 points,-10
Wade Redden: 53 games, 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points +20    

I remember Brewer looking great in last years playoffs, but haven't seen much of him this season.  His stats are anything but impressive for an offensive, puck moving defenseman.  I think Redden would have been a much better choice for team Canada.  I guess Kevin Low had some say in that decision.

[MPLABBE]

Andrew said:

Eric Brewer: 54 games,5 goals,12 assists,17 points,-10
Wade Redden: 53 games, 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points +20    

I remember Brewer looking great in last years playoffs, but haven't seen much of him this season.  His stats are anything but impressive for an offensive, puck moving defenseman.  I think Redden would have been a much better choice for team Canada.  I guess Kevin Low had some say in that decision.

Don't put too much in Brewer's plus and minus.He played with Poti(grossly overated player,terrible defensively) and that sunk his plus and minus.Also,Brewer gets almost all of his points on the PP which doesn't count on the plus and minus.Basically,Redden has a better plus +- because he plays on a great even strength team like Ottawa.And Brewer will be 7th d-man,so no need to make a crisis on him being part of the team.Heck,I rather have Brewer as a 7th than Richard Shmelik or Tom Poti.

[seventeen]

If Lowe offered Brewer even up for Markov, it'd be adios Andre.  Brewer is 3' taller, about 30 lbs heavier, a better skater, a hitter, and maybe a little better in his own end.  Andre's offensive instincts are better. Having defended Eric's honour, however, what we're talking about here is Markov's talent compared to so many other 'young' d-men.  I haven't seen them all play, but would guess that Markov is generally considered weaker in his own end, than most of those.  My personal opinion (which most regular readers already know "here he goes again", is that Markov's defensive ability is underrated.  He isn't great, but he's no where near the liability he's made out to be.  His offensive abilities, I wager, are better than all those guys listed by Marc.  He is gifted offensively, like our Mikey Ribeiro, and it's in his vision, passing and thinking skills where he truly excels.  Naturally, a lot of people don't see that, because...well, they just don't.  

[MPLABBE]

seventeen said:

If Lowe offered Brewer even up for Markov, it'd be adios Andre.  Brewer is 3' taller, about 30 lbs heavier, a better skater, a hitter, and maybe a little better in his own end.  Andre's offensive instincts are better. Having defended Eric's honour, however, what we're talking about here is Markov's talent compared to so many other 'young' d-men.  I haven't seen them all play, but would guess that Markov is generally considered weaker in his own end, than most of those.  My personal opinion (which most regular readers already know "here he goes again", is that Markov's defensive ability is underrated.  He isn't great, but he's no where near the liability he's made out to be.  His offensive abilities, I wager, are better than all those guys listed by Marc.  He is gifted offensively, like our Mikey Ribeiro, and it's in his vision, passing and thinking skills where he truly excels.  Naturally, a lot of people don't see that,
because...well, they just don't.  

Well,Lowe isn't about to offer the Brew for Markov straight up,so the point is moot.I also think Markov is better defensively than what people give him credit for.On the list I posted,the only players who are better defensively IMO,are Brewer,Kaberle,Morris,Skoula and Stuart.The rest are all mediocre in their own zone.

[KR]

I'm certainly not buying the assertion that politics has anything to do with Markov's playing time or the respect he gets.  Brisebois garners a lot af attention because of his considerable defensive gaffs. Robidas and Bouillon because they are perceived as overachievers. Markov just blends into the background. Let's face it, he's not a great interview. Not being able to speak French or English will do that to ya'. He doesn't score a lot of goals because he probably just doesn't shoot enough. In other words, he's not that glamourous. I'm sure his teammates appreciate his great passing skills. I personally think he's the best Habs defenceman I can remember at keeping the puck in at the blueline on clearing attempts (a huge Habs weakness that seldom is mentioned). I frimly believe that Markov will be an all-star someday, but he may never be a media celebrity.