I don’t understand why GM Marc Bergevin didn’t make more of an effort to hang onto Markov. Perhaps the organization saw a decline in his game that wasn’t obvious to mere mortals. In any case, the Canadiens have never had the knack of easing their most honoured veterans into retirement. From Rocket Richard to Guy Lafleur, from Robinson to Saku Koivu, things have always gone south before that final game — Jean Béliveau is one of the few exceptions to that rule.

With the Habs still sitting well under the salary cap, you have to believe Bergevin has some major move up his sleeve. If not, he’s boxed himself in. The usual knee-jerk suspects are all over the GM for losing Markov: They’d savage Bergevin if he picked up Sidney Crosby on the waiver wire.

-Jack Todd at the Montreal Gazette where you can read more on Andrie Markov and the Canadiens...