Emmanuel Lozano/The Arizona Republic Coyotes defenseman Danny Markov (right) will likely play for Russia in the upcoming Winter Olympics.Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 11, 2001
TORONTO -
When the Coyotes' flight landed here and the team boarded a bus to whisk it to a hotel, an airline employee sprinted from the plane, carrying a compact disc one of the players had left behind.
He gave it to coach Bobby Francis.
''Kid Rock! Who left a Kid Rock CD on the plane?" Francis barked.
Defenseman Danny Markov made his way to the front of the bus to retrieve the CD and thanked the coach.
''I should have known," Francis said, smiling. ''It has blood stains on it."
Francis was joking, but then again, the way the 25-year-old Markov has shown his willingness to shed blood for the Coyotes this season, you just never know.
He should be a pitchman for the Red Cross.
You've seen the ''Give Blood, Play Hockey" T-shirt. Well, they ought to put a picture of Markov's face on the front of it.
''He exemplifies everything a hockey player should be about," Francis said. ''I can't say enough about the guy."
On Nov. 27, Markov was hit in the face by a slap shot in Columbus.
He suffered a broken nose, two black eyes, and a 25-stitch gash to his forehead. It took five minutes to clean up all the blood.
Markov returned to the game, with his team trailing 3-0 no less, in the third period. That moment, and many others like it, has come to define the fearless, reckless and selfless side of the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Moscow.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, whom the Coyotes play tonight at the Air Canada Centre, know all about the "Mad Russian." Markov was one of the team's more popular players here, and many fans still can't believe general manager/coach Pat Quinn traded him to Phoenix for Travis Green, Robert Reichel and minor leaguer Craig Mills.
Olympians? Coyotes who may represent their respective countries at the Winter Olympics, listed according to their chances of being selected. GOLD MEDAL Sean Burke, Canada: Wayne Gretzky will make it official on Saturday. Teppo Numminen, Finland: The best defenseman the Finns have to offer. Danny Markov, Russia: Gritty blueliner is a lock, sources said Monday. Michal Handzus, Slovakia: Expected to center one of the top two lines. Ladislav Nagy, Slovakia: Will play on the left side of Handzus. Radoslav Suchy, Slovakia: One of the fastest-improving Slovaks in the NHL. SILVER MEDAL Sergei Berezin, Russia: Slow start might have hurt his chances. Ossi Vaananen, Finland: He's not a lock, but he belongs. BRONZE MEDAL Robert Esche, U.S.: Hopes faded after rough start, groin injury. Tonight's game COYOTES AT MAPLE LEAFS WHEN: 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Air Canada Centre, Toronto. TV/RADIO: None/KDUS-AM (1060). WHAT TO EXPECT: The Coyotes have a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2), but are 0-3 in their past three visits here and have been outscored 13-7. The Maple Leafs have an Eastern Conference-leading 39 points and are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games at home. WHOM TO WATCH: Toronto's Tie Domi, with 1,667 penalty minutes, is three minutes shy of breaking Dave ''Tiger" Williams' club record. It's former Maple Leafs vs. former Coyotes, as Danny Markov and Sergei Berezin return to face the likes of Travis Green, Robert Reichel and Mikael Renberg. INJURIES: Coyotes D Todd Simpson (foot) and RW Mike Johnson (knee) are out. Leafs report no injuries. KEY STAT: The rebuilding Coyotes have more power-play goals (21) than the first-place Maple Leafs (17). ''Danny, he's a free spirit that you've gotta love," Quinn said Monday. ''He's hard not to like. He's such a competitive guy. He's going to be an advantage for any team he's around."
Including the Russian Olympic team, which is ready to name him to its roster for the Games in Salt Lake City.
NHL sources have confirmed Markov will be on the team when Russia's general manager, Slava Fetisov, announces his lineup next week.
''I'd play for my country in any situation, any time, anywhere," Markov said. ''If they invite me, I'm ready. I've had a couple phone calls already, but I don't want to say anything until (Fetisov) puts my name in the paper or makes it public. But I feel very good about my chances."
Why stop there?
The player often compared to Pittsburgh's Darius Kasparaitis might also be in the running for an NHL All-Star Game appearance.
Kasparaitis is one of the leading vote-getters among defensemen for the World team, and his clone, Markov, is actually having a better year.
With 16 points (12 on assists), Markov ranks 14th in the league in blue-line scoring. He has 11 points on the power play and ranks second on the Coyotes in hits with 80.
But will the NHL send two players known mostly for their physical play to an All-Star Game?
They may as well invite the Hanson brothers.
''I think people would like to see some of that, too," Markov said, smiling. ''I don't know. I'd love to be in an All-Star Game, though. It's one of my dreams. Win the Stanley Cup, go to an All-Star Game, and play in the Olympics. That would be nice."
So would a new contract, something Coyotes management is presently trying to accomplish behind the scenes. General manager Mike Barnett has had preliminary discussions with the agents for both Markov and Russian teammate Sergei Berezin, and there is a chance both could receive multi-year extensions by Christmas.
''That would be great," Markov said. ''I'd really appreciate that, because I love it in Phoenix. I really like this team and I like the players here. I'd like to play for the Coyotes for a long, long time."
Managing partner Wayne Gretzky points to Markov as one of the main reasons the Coyotes have surprised many of their doubters.
The key to rebuilding the team around a scaled-back payroll was the defense, and Markov, Gretzky said, has helped anchor that group.
''I said all along that people were going to love Danny Markov," Gretzky said. ''He sets the tone for our defense every night. Everyone just kind of rides his coattails. He's been such a big part of this young defense playing so well up to this point.
''He's been amazing. I've played with guys who have a cold and say they can't play. I've played with guys who have broken bones and you can't keep them out. He's one of those types of guys. You just hope you have 20 guys like that on your team."
He's a Markov Cocktail, a volatile mix of pure energy and unstable eruption.
''My father taught me how to play this way," Markov said. ''He pushed me to play as hard as I can and I've always tried to do that. It's just emotion. I love playing hockey. I love to just go, go, go."
Quite a sight
At the end of every shift, Markov usually skates to the bench with his helmet on crooked, the result of pounding someone into the boards, or throwing his body in front of a shot. It's a hell-bent-for-leather style that probably will take miles off his career.
''I don't think I could ever change my style," he said. ''How many injuries doesn't matter. I'll never change."
As a boy, he wanted to be a goalie.
''I was pretty good at it, too," he said. ''I stopped a lot of shots." But Evgeny Markov, his father, decided against it.
''I was 8 or 9, and I didn't really mind," he said. ''You can't hit people very often when you're a goalie."
Or spill as much blood.