5 teams in the mix to land 40-year-old D-man!

Things are looking better and better for veteran defenseman Andrei Markov. The 40-year-old blue liner is looking to make an NHL comeback and hired agent Allan Walsh to look for teams interesting in landing his services.

And it seems to be working.

According to Eric Engels of Sportsnet, five team are reportedly in the mix to sign the veteran defenseman. While Markov won’t comment on whether the Montreal Canadiens have shown interest in getting him back, Walsh is confident his client will get hired without having to take on a professional tryout (PTO).

Allan Walsh says Andrei Markov would love to finish his career as a Montreal Canadien, but won’t comment on whether or not they have shown interest. Says 5 teams or so have already checked in. Markov wants a one-year deal, Walsh says he should get one without having to try out.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) August 29, 2019

After 16 seasons in Montreal, Markov left the Habs two years ago after he was unable to come to a contract agreement with GM Marc Bergevin. He returned to Russia and spent the past two seasons with the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan, recording 47 points in 104 games, winning the league’s Gagarin Cup back in 2018.

Markov was selected in the sixth round, 162nd overall by the Canadiens at the 1998 NHL Draft. In his tenure with the club, he recorded 119 goals and 572 points in 990 games. He would have loved to play 1000 games with the team.

Earlier this week, Jared Clinton of The Hockey News dressed a list of teams that could sign Markov in the coming weeks. He did mention the Canadiens and believes the veteran blue liner could reunite with former teammate P.K. Subban in New Jersey. He also lists the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers as potential destinations.

Walsh made sure to get more interested around his client by publishing on Thursday a video of Markov training for the season.