Getting rid of Markov wasn't so bad
By AL STRACHAN -- Toronto Sun
NASHVILLE -- Former Maple Leafs defenceman Danny Markov was shipped from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday morning.
Later that afternoon, the teams learned that Markov said he is not coming back to the National Hockey League.
He claims he has signed with a team in Russia.
The full trade was Markov and a 2004 fourth-round draft pick for
defencemen David Tanabe and Igor Knyazev.
Without Markov, it's a one-sided trade, but Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford is of the opinion that Markov's announcement is merely a bargaining ploy on the player's part.
Markov is a restricted free agent and wants $3.2 million US a
season, which is precisely why the cash-strapped Coyotes shipped him out.
But even if he has signed a deal in Russia, those contracts
invariably include a clause allowing him to leave for NHL employment.
And if money is the issue, he won't be getting even a quarter of an NHL salary in that league.
Furthermore, sources say that although Markov insists he is not
coming back, he has applied for a green card, allowing him to work in the U.S.