DAVID DENOMA
What's that old tune about sign, sign everywhere a sign?
Our knowledge of celestial codes and symbols doesn't stretch much beyond a casual leafing of the Da Vince Code (that was non-fiction, right?) but you don't need to be an expert to see the big neon arrows that fate occasionally positions in one's view.
Like this one: our boy Pernell Karl Subban walked into the Habs' room this morning after the team's skate and scoured the name-plates for his locker (the location of his stuff has become a bit of an obsession in this space, indulge us.)
Turns out the dressing room overlords decided to stick him in Andrei Markov's old spot today.
Cue the clarion call, the heir apparent has arrived.
Subban laughed off the parallels, ("I really don't care, I'm not worried about lockers and that stuff, I'm worried about the game") but that doesn't make them unmistakable.
The wunderkind has had a few wobbles along the way, but has filled Markov's minutes in mostly admirable fashion.
Which brings us to the Russian master, who underwent surgery on his right knee yesterday to repair some important ligament or other.
Markov, who suffered a knee injury in the late-going last year and missed 35 games with a torn ankle tendon, has a history with wonky joints and connective tissue, and at 31, will enter his contract year when he resumes playing some time in October or November.
Yeah, yeah, now's not the time to talk contract situations with the Habs still in the hunt, but let's face it, they're down 0-2, so as Chris Kunitz of the Penguins said in the last playoff round "thoughts start creeping in."
The ideal scenario for the Habs would be to keep both Subban and Markov of course, but with Montreal hovering close to the cap and pay hikes coming for Jaro Halak and Tomas Plekanec (who has probably gone from being a $5-million player to a $3.5-million player with his miserable last three weeks), raise your hands if you think Pierre Gauthier is in a hurry to sign Markov long-term for the Lidstrom-like money he will likely command.
The sides were apparently going to start talking after the season is over, but this injury, coming as it does on the heels of a pair of other significant ones in the last two years, could suggest the opening offer from the Habs may change.
Or not, who knows.
We just wanted to provide some food for thought people, as you settle in for tonight's game.
Speaking of which, the Habs looked pretty dialed-in this morning, the feeling in the room is they're going to win this thing tonight.
We say if they do, they win Saturday as well. But you'll excuse our pessimism concerning the Habs' chances of actually advancing.
But if Halak can let in goals like the stinker he gave up to Ville Leino the other night after the way he's played this playoffs, surely Michael Leighton can as well.