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A tribute video, featuring past teammates Jos茅 Th茅odore, Brendan Gallagher, P.K. Subban and Carey Price, and fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, played on the arena鈥檚 big screen before the soft-spoken Markov made a speech next to his No. 79 on the ice.

鈥淥h boy, I鈥檓 nervous,鈥� said a visibly emotional Markov, accompanied on the ice by his wife, Sonya, and two of his kids, Vasilisa and Alexander.

鈥淚 always believed this is the best place to play hockey.鈥�

Known as 鈥淭he General,鈥� the six-foot Markov played his entire 16-year NHL career in Montreal, returning to play professionally in Russia in 2017 when he and then-general manager Marc Bergevin failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

At the time, Markov said he didn鈥檛 want to play for any other NHL team than Montreal, and so his NHL career ended 10 games short of the 1,000-game plateau 鈥� a milestone only five players have achieved solely with the Canadiens.

While the abrupt ending hurt at the time, Markov says he no longer carries any resentment.

"Right now it's over already,鈥� Markov said. 鈥淲hen I left Montreal, yes, it was staying in my mind. But right now it's over. I'm not regret about anything, I'm a lucky person to spend my whole career with a team like Montreal, so I'm happy.鈥�

When Canadiens owner Geoff Molson invited him to a night in his honour roughly three months ago, Markov was caught off guard.

"Never expected that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was surprised to receive the email.

鈥淚t's something special which is gonna stay for the rest of my life.鈥�

The 46-year-old from Voskresensk, Russia, is widely considered one of the best defencemen in the Canadiens鈥� storied history, his 572 points tied with Guy Lapointe for second all-time among Montreal blue liners.

Markov visited the Bell Centre and his old dressing room stall with his son Tuesday, meeting with the Canadiens鈥� young Russian star Ivan Demidov. On Wednesday, pictures of his finest moments in a Habs sweater lined the bowels of the building.

"It's a special place,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fans, the city and the people outside of hockey, in the city they've always been good to me. I always felt I'm home.鈥�

A sixth-round pick, 162nd overall, in 1998, Markov turned into one of the Canadiens鈥� draft steals.

He was a two-time all-star, a mainstay on the Canadiens鈥� top pair and power play, and a steady and cerebral defenceman who elevated his partners, including Sheldon Souray, Mark Streit and Subban.

Subban, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL鈥檚 top defenceman while paired with Markov in 2013, said the Canadiens鈥� No. 79 鈥渓eft an indelible mark on me.鈥�

鈥淲earing the number 76 jersey was a small tribute, as 6 upside down is 9, symbolizing 79,鈥� he wrote in a social media post Wednesday. 鈥淚 aimed to mirror his dedication and leadership on the ice. Witnessing Andrei's devotion as a father, husband, and friend has been inspiring.

鈥淐heers to the general, tonight and every night!鈥�

Markov averaged 23 minutes of ice time over his career and persevered through several major injuries.

After posting a career-high 64 points in 78 games in 2008-09, ankle and knee injuries limited him to just 20 games through the next two seasons.

Markov, a father of five who became a 好色tv citizen in 2010, retired from professional hockey in 2020 after three season鈥檚 in Russia鈥檚 Kontinental Hockey League, two with Kazan Ak-Bars and one for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.

This report by 好色tvwas first published Dec. 3, 2025.