The Montreal Canadiens paid long awaited tribute to one of their most respected modern-era defencemen on Wednesday night honouring Andrei Markov with an emotional pregame ceremony at the Bell Centre. Hours later, former teammate P.K. Subban added his own salute posting a heartfelt message on Instagram in his honor.Markov, who spent 16 seasons with Montreal from 2000 to 2017, received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes as he walked onto the ice accompanied by his wife and children. The Canadiens played a video montage featuring highlights from his career with tributes from former players.His teammates described him as a player who made the game easier for everyone around him in the video tribute. It was this version of Markov that Subban celebrated in his Instagram post Wednesday night. The two formed one of the NHL’s most effective defensive pairings during their time together in Montreal.“Andrei Markov left an indelible mark on me,” Subban wrote. “Wearing the number 76 jersey was a small tribute, as 6 upside down is 9, symbolizing 79. I aimed to mirror his dedication and leadership on the ice.”Subban added that his admiration for Markov extended well beyond hockey.“Witnessing Andrei's devotion as a father, husband, and friend has been inspiring. Cheers to the general, tonight and every night!”He closed his message with a salute to Markov’s iconic number:“🫡79# 💙🤍❤️ Merci Marky! 🇷🇺” View this post on Instagram Instagram PostMarkov played 990 regular-season games, the second-most by a defenceman in franchise history and recorded 572 points, tying Guy Lapointe for second all-time among Montreal blueliners. He anchored the Canadiens’ power play for more than a decade, was a two-time NHL All-Star and remained a major part of the team even after returning from two major knee surgeries that once threatened his career.Andrei Markov delivers emotional speech for Montreal crowdAddressing the love he has received from the organization and the fans, Andrei Markov reminisced his experience when he first arrived in the city. He shared that it had been a tremendous honor to be back at the Bell Centre.“First of all, it’s a big honor to be here tonight,” Markov said to the fans. “When I came to Montreal 25 years ago, I didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a city that welcomed me, a team that became my family, and fans that support us every single night. [H/T NHL.com]“To all my teammates, my coaches and staff, thank you for making me a better person and a better player.”The building erupted again when Markov, often referred to as “The General”, acknowledged the crowd with a hand over his heart.“I always believed that this is the best city to play hockey,” he said during his speech. “Monteral, je’taime.”Markov left the Canadiens in 2017 after contract talks with the NHL team stalled and later finished his career in the KHL before retiring in 2020.