Veteran defenceman Andrei Markov is staying put in Montreal after signing a US$23-million, four-year deal with the Canadiens on Monday.
The 29-year-old Markov was due to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Markov was fourth in team scoring this season, second among the club's defencemen with six goals and 43 assists in 77 games.
I'm only posting on this because it will undoubtedly affect negotations with Mat Schneider. Hard to imagine that he will take anything less than 5M now, given that he had more goals, more points, and superior +/-. I don't think Schneids will command as much as Markov due to age and possibly the perception that he is a product of the Wings' system. But then again, there is also often a premium placed on the "Red Wings Pedigree" so who knows. I think this basically seals the Wings' fate with regard to Schneider. I don't see them resigning him.
