Thursday, July 23, 2009

Andrei Markov is the 42nd-best player in the league

I just can't pass up a chance to re-post this picture

Adam Gretz over at NHL Fanhouse has found an excellent summer time-waster by counting down his Top 50 players in the NHL right now. I remember thinking to myself when he started there was no fucking way any Hab would end up on the list. So I was pleasantly surprised to see when I logged on this morning that he had Andrei Markov at #42.

Gretz' inclusion of Markov stems mostly from his being the second highest scoring defenseman in the league last year, as well as him being "more than capable" in his own end, even though he's "prone to the occasional turnover at the wrong time." You got that right buddy.

I enjoy the fact that Markov's ranking is also the Answer to life, the universe, and everything. So, do we think he's the 42nd-best player in the league? Or is he only the 43rd?

30 comments:

Rédaction said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rédaction said...

"The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything is... FORTY TWO."

I really didn't expect that one.

42 is also the sum of the totient function for the first eleven integersis...

Arthur Dent said...

Hey I'm 42!

James said...

Great reference to the Guide, for sure.

I personally think Markov should be a bit higher than 42nd. Obviously his picks higher than 42 aren't out yet, so it's hard to compare... but just based on the fact that the ENTIRE Canadiens teams depends 100% on Markov's performance... well I'd put him in the 30s on that list.

Maybe I'm a blind fanboy too, who knows?

too close to toronto said...

i kinda think he should be higher. if you assume that each position is equally important in hockey, then 1/3 of the list should be defensemen. so that means that of 50 players, 17 should be d-men (i'm rounding up slightly). there are 4 d-men on this list already below markov, which would suggest that markov is the 13th best d-man in the league. can you name 12 d-men better than markov? i don't think i can.

Topham said...

I've looked across rosters and there are only 19 players who I would definitively say are better than Markov.

I then count about 25 who could be marginally better.

This guy put all but 3 marginally better players ahead of Markov, which I think is unlucky. Probably just shows we should expect to see some highly overrated Flyers coming up.

Jen23 said...

When is the countdown to puck drop usually posted? Days are dragging on, putting a number to the sad days without hockey makes me less sad.

Boob Gainey said...

Markov is underrated.

For me he's in the top 5 D-men in the league without a doubt.

Young HF29 said...

@Jen23 - how about right now.

moeman said...

Boob knows.

L Dude said...

Hooray for counters! 70 days. That's only 10 weeks. And that's until regular season. Throw 3 weeks of preseason and a week of training camp in there, it's only six weeks. I'm on vacation for 2 weeks in August where I'll be mostly drunk and in the woods at my camp, away from technology. So really only 4 more weeks. WOOHOO!

Rédaction said...

70 fucking days!? Holy fuck.

At least we have the Als... its going to be a rape tonight!

Young HF29 said...

@Mtliste1 - personally wouldn't use the word rape there, but yes, I expect a solid win. Though Hamilton is tougher than you think. They're not last season's crapfest

still 70 days...

moeman said...

Tomorrow it'll be 69 days on a Sexy Friday.

Jen23 said...

Love you, man! Now all we need is more half naked guys on this site and it will be the best Hab site ever.

Young HF29 said...

@jen23 - come back for sexy friday, we'll see what we can do

@moeman - heh. nice catch.

moeman said...

@ hf29, t'was easy and fun.

Also speaking of catCHes, Bar .

WV = prose, as in ;

Roses are Red.
Violets are Blue.
Bar is a fucking babe!
Where's the Bounty?

Rédaction said...

Picked up on H I/O. Worth watching.

I know talk is cheap... but we'll like this guy.

Sonia said...

Judging by the photo, 42 is the number of Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters that Markov and Ovie consumed between them.

Funny to think that Markov was drafted as a Centre by the Habs, but switched to defence when he was still in Russia to get more ice time. Pretty impressive changeover, if you ask me.

On the other hand, I can't help wondering what he might have been like as a centre. Would he have been the big #1 guy we've been looking for all along?

My head hurts.

Anonymous said...

Is it just me or does Ovie have mastadon sized thighs? He's not very big up top but i've never seen muscles on legs like that unless it's just the picture.

One last thing..is it just me or do you think Ovie/Markov could be doing a lot better than that?!

moeman said...

Engels, yeah we like him, poses 10 Qs (some we've bounced around in here);
~ ~ ~

1. Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Kostitsyn, Halak, and D’Agostini…Who is most likely to be traded?

2. Which signing or trade that Bob Gainey made this summer are you most excited about?

3. Out of the 11 Montreal Canadiens from last year that weren’t brought back, who will you miss the most?

4. Do you believe Carey Price has better insulation now, with the moves that Bob Gainey has made this summer?

5. Do you feel the Canadiens will offer exciting or boring hockey to watch, under Jacques Martin?

6. Who in your opinion is the most improved team in the Eastern Conference?

7. Who is the least improved or most deteriorated team in the Eastern Conference?

8. Which former Canadien will receive the coldest reception at the Bell Centre this year?

9. Does Sergei Kostitsyn have a place on this team?

10. Who should wear the “C”?

~~~

WV = hargu, hard to hargu when someone gives you 10! hockey Qs, 70 days from the fucking puck drop.

-->Disclaimer<-- Yes, hockeybuzz is fun, if only for schmeklund's e5 inanities and Howie Bergermesiter's leaf = loserville rants.

Kate said...

@Anon,

Take a good look at Ovie & Markov.

In a word - no.

moeman said...

1. Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Kostitsyn, Halak, and D’Agostini…Who is most likely to be traded?

~ now or later and for who?

2. Which signing or trade that Bob Gainey made this summer are you most excited about?

~ Squid

3. Out of the 11 Montreal Canadiens from last year that weren’t brought back, who will you miss the most?

~ Saku (who are the other 10?)

4. Do you believe Carey Price has better insulation now, with the moves that Bob Gainey has made this summer?

~ less Dou$harek = OK by me

5. Do you feel the Canadiens will offer exciting or boring hockey to watch, under Jacques Martin?

~ ABCarbo

6. Who in your opinion is the most improved team in the Eastern Conference?

~ CH

7. Who is the least improved or most deteriorated team in the Eastern Conference?

~ leaf

8. Which former Canadien will receive the coldest reception at the Bell Centre this year?

~ Dou$harek

9. Does Sergei Kostitsyn have a place on this team?

~ Yup, I like small tits

10. Who should wear the “C”?

~ I'd give Squid a season and then stiCH him

~ ~ ~

WV = sheepro, a perfect definition of a leaf fan

Anonymous said...

What do looks have to do with anything, it's all about the money...
Donald Trump
Hugh Heffner
Tiger Woods
Dallas Green

Baroque said...

Tiger Woods isn't bad looking, though - Ovechkin looks like a caveman that was just unfrozen.

Boob Gainey said...

1. Pleks
2. Not excited really. But Camilleri has one sweet wrist shot.
3. L'Artiste.
4. Carey needs to grow up.
5. Exciting.
6. Habs.
7. Leafs.
8. Doucharek. But Grabitchky deserves it more.
9. Sergei - yes.
10. Markov.

Sonia said...

1. Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Kostitsyn, Halak, and D’Agostini…Who is most likely to be traded?
- Pleks and maybe a Tit.

2. Which signing or trade that Bob Gainey made this summer are you most excited about?
- I'm most excited about the fact that NONE of the acquisitions were named Vincent "OMFG That's a Shitty Contract" Lecavalier

3. Out of the 11 Montreal Canadiens from last year that weren’t brought back, who will you miss the most?
- SAKUUUUUUUU! Come back! Bob was just being a douche!

4. Do you believe Carey Price has better insulation now, with the moves that Bob Gainey has made this summer? Insulation?
- Carey can buy his own condoms. Oh, you mean on the ice?

5. Do you feel the Canadiens will offer exciting or boring hockey to watch, under Jacques Martin?
- Mostly boring, with gusts up to interesting and occasional bursts of Cammalleri.

6. Who in your opinion is the most improved team in the Eastern Conference?
- 'Canes, with Greek Lightning.

7. Who is the least improved or most deteriorated team in the Eastern Conference?
- Buffalo - WTF? Did you think your team was that good last season?

8. Which former Canadien will receive the coldest reception at the Bell Centre this year?
- Aw, c'mon! Really?

9. Does Sergei Kostitsyn have a place on this team?
- If he wants to have a place he'll have a place.

10. Who should wear the “C”?
- Nobody. Let the new C earn it.

Number31 said...

1. Neither, especially Halak 'cause no one needs goalies (unless you're the Islanders, apparently).
2. Calamari and Moen. And Mara, just because he seems to enjoy punching Darcy Tucker.
3. Kovy and Kostopoulos
4. Yes, and also now they won't leave it up to just Pleky to punch people who slash him
5. It'll be HOCKEY!
6. Leafs think they're improved but I'd say they're all pretty much the same as last year.
7. Sabres have done noting in years
8. The guy who will eventually be traded to the Islanders for Tavares. Feel the love, Komo.
9. Yes, especially on the 2nd PP unit in the quarterback position which is his fucking specialty, Carbo.
10. Someone will earn it and the media will bitch about it.

Number31 said...

So... How about those Alouettes eh?

James said...

1. Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Kostitsyn, Halak, and D’Agostini…Who is most likely to be traded?
-Hopefully no one. Enough change for a year, thank you.

2. Which signing or trade that Bob Gainey made this summer are you most excited about?
-Squid for sure

3. Out of the 11 Montreal Canadiens from last year that weren’t brought back, who will you miss the most?
-Koivu

4. Do you believe Carey Price has better insulation now, with the moves that Bob Gainey has made this summer?
-With Martin on board, yes. The new defense? Not so much...

5. Do you feel the Canadiens will offer exciting or boring hockey to watch, under Jacques Martin?
-Who gives a fuck, so long as they win

6. Who in your opinion is the most improved team in the Eastern Conference?
-Habs

7. Who is the least improved or most deteriorated team in the Eastern Conference?
-Buffalo looks terrible. They were already a bubble team and they replace their PP QB with a mediocre (at best) defenseman.
-Florida trades J-Bo for some random #6 d-man, and because of their GM's defection (ha!) are completely inactive on July 1st...

8. Which former Canadien will receive the coldest reception at the Bell Centre this year?
-The Traitor

9. Does Sergei Kostitsyn have a place on this team?
-definitely

10. Who should wear the “C”?
-no one until a worthy candidate comes along. That person is not with the team right now, or is too new to have the C.