MONTREAL (Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens re-signed Russian defenseman Andrei Markov to a three-year contract, locking up a veteran player who gives the team a solid blue-line presence when he is healthy.
Markov, who has spent each of his 10 NHL seasons with the Canadiens, had one goal and two assists in seven games before a knee injury ended his 2010-11 season after seven games.
"A player drafted and developed by our organization, Andrei brings a high level of talent and leadership to our team," Canadiens General Manager Pierre Gauthier said in a statement.
"We look forward to having him back in our lineup for the start of the upcoming season."
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Taken by the Canadiens in the sixth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the 32-year-old, two-times All-Star has registered 366 points in 623 games.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Julian Linden)
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