With 43 points in 81 games, another 10 in 17 playoff games, and a whole lot of important minutes logged in all situations, Andrei Markov certainly has legitimate claim to a very healthy contract extension.

Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported yesterday that Markov and his agent, Sergei Berezin, are seeking a three-year contract with the Canadiens.

General consensus among the hockey insiders is that Marc Bergevin is intent on offering one year.

Naturally, the compromise is to be found in the middle, at two years, with a cap figure that will probably, slightly eclipse six million dollars per season.

If Markov is unwilling to bend that way, there are multiple teams that will give him the three years he's after, even as a +35 year old player, whose money stays on the cap no matter what happens over the term of his contract.

Simply, Markov wants to remain a Canadien, and the Canadiens want him to remain with the club. He still represents a potent threat on the powerplay, he was among the top shot-blockers in the league this season, he's a key cog at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, and the Canadiens don't have a better internal option--at this stage--to replace what he brings in terms of leadership.

As Nathan Beaulieu grows with more seasoning, who better to provide the mentoring than Markov?

Scouring free agency for a suitable replacement for Markov, the only name truly worth considering is Dan Boyle's. Boyle is two years older, and likely to only secure a two-year deal from a competitive team. Having just had his rights traded to the New York Islanders, they probably represent the healthiest offer he'll receive.

Boyle's also been rumored as a candidate the Ottawa Senators would have big interest in, as he's from the area.

Whether it's Markov, or it's Boyle, the Canadiens are looking at a hefty investment over the next two years. When you add that figure to what P.K. Subban's going to net, it has to be considered that there could be some shifting parts on the Canadiens blue line next season.

For argument's sake, slot in Markov for six million next season, add eight and a half for Subban, and consider that Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi will be regulars in the top six regardless of whether they both start the season as regulars. It's safe to assume Francis Bouillon and Douglas Murray won't be returning with the club. It's also safe to assume that Bergevin is going to make a very honest attempt to keep Mike Weaver--a depth defender that proved his worth (Bergevin clearly values having depth defenders).

The defensive depth chart shapes up as follows:
Subban
Markov
Emelin
Gorges
Tinordi
Beaulieu
Weaver
Pateryn

If we stick with the assumptions above, the Habs would be spending $22.5M on Subban, Markov, Gorges and Emelin as a top four. It was a top four that showed in the playoffs that they weren't quite elite enough to carry the Canadiens to the next level.

When you look at that depth chart, you have to consider what they Canadiens may have too much of, and you also have to consider how moving the pieces around could lead to them improving internally.

Emelin's inconsistency this season probably had as much to do with coming off reconstructive knee surgery as it did having to play the right side when he's been a left-side defenseman his whole life. A full offseason to recover and to train for the season to come is going to bring out the best in him on a much more consistent basis, and to ensure that, the Habs have to find a way to have him play on the left side.

There are two ways the Canadiens can get Emelin to the left. The first is to let Markov walk and gamble that the team can get Boyle signed. The second--far less risky option--is to trade Josh Gorges. The truth is exercising both those options might just be the fastest way for Bergevin to improve his blue line.

If Bergevin is able to hang onto Mike Weaver on a short-term deal, he'll pay less for him than what he's paying for Gorges. While Gorges still has more upside, and is a big part of the fabric of the Canadiens, the combination of having Weaver and Tinordi in roles well makes up for what you lose in Gorges on the ice.

For argument's sake, assuming the Habs came to terms with Boyle instead of Markov, and traded Josh Gorges, let's say the picture shifts as follows:

Tinordi-Subban
Emelin-Boyle
Beaulieu/Tinordi-Weaver
Pateryn

Or, if Markov returns and Gorges remains, it looks like this:
Gorges-Subban
Markov-Emelin
Beaulieu-Weaver
Tinordi-Pateryn

Any way you slice it, the biggest decisions looming for Bergevin involve his defensemen.

I think Bergevin will hold strong on the Markov front. He has no assurances he can even get Dan Boyle, and his move is likely to be to stick to his one-year offer on Markov, hoping the Russian will take it.

If Markov refuses, I'm not convinced Bergevin will offer the two-year deal that will almost assuredly keep him in a Canadiens uniform. That might just be the gamble Bergevin's willing to take, knowing that Boyle's services would be attainable for two years, something that becomes more tangible for him to offer if Markov walks. Bergevin could also allow Markov to walk, whiff on Boyle, and he could attempt to replace that role in a trade package that includes Gorges. It's all deep speculation, but these are the scenarios that Bergevin is facing.

More on the defensive brigade and the decisions to be made to follow...

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