Agent: 'Numerous teams' called about Markov

Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is receiving plenty of interest from teams as he works toward returning to the NHL this season.

"Things were busy yesterday," his agent, Allan Walsh, said on Thursday, according to NHL.com. "Numerous teams called. They're asking questions about his conditioning, forwarded teams a bunch of videos of him training. There are people who have actually been out to see him skate in Florida and train."

"I'm very confident there will be a deal for him, and he'll play somewhere this year," Walsh added.

Markov, 40, played 16 seasons with the Habs before returning to his native Russia for two campaigns starting in 2017-18. He notched 14 points in 49 games for Kazan Ak-Bars of the KHL last season.

Going back to Montreal is Markov's No. 1 choice, according to Walsh. The veteran is 10 games shy of becoming the sixth Canadien to play 1,000 games wearing the team's iconic jersey.

However, if a reunion isn't in the cards, Markov is open to suiting up elsewhere.

"Andrei's made it very clear his heart is in Montreal, it always will be in Montreal," Walsh said. "He would love to finish his career in Montreal, would love to play his 1,000th game in a Canadiens jersey. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't happen, we'll have to wait and see. More than that, he's 100 percent committed to playing in the NHL this season."

"He's made it very clear to me he's open to playing for any team in the NHL, period," Walsh continued

The Canadiens selected Markov in the sixth round of the 1998 draft. He's posted 119 career NHL goals and 453 assists.

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