MONTREAL - Andrei Markov is staying with the only NHL club he has ever known. The 35-year-old defenceman agreed to terms of a US$17.25-million, three-year contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. Markov was due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He said on a conference call that signing a new deal with Montreal was his first priority. "I knew before the season was over Id like to stay with the Montreal Canadiens, so Im happy the deal was done and Im looking forward now. I feel like Im at home here. I feel comfortable. Id like to stay for the rest of my career. Ive never known (free agency), but it doesnt matter. Im happy with that deal." Markov will earn the same salary, $5.75 million per season, that he made in each of his last two contracts over the past seven years. As a player 35 or over, he is guaranteed the full amount of his new deal. "We are very happy to have secured a long term agreement with Andrei," general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement. "He is an important part of our group of core players. "He is healthy, shows a very good work ethic and has great leadership skills. He plays big minutes against the top opponents, and game-changing defencemen of his calibre are hard to find." Markov will be 38 when the deal expires after the 2016-17 season, but feels it is too early to say if it will be his last contract. There were fears that his career was over when a succession of knee injuries limited him to only 65 games over three years from 2009-10 to 20011-12, but he played all 48 games of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign and missed only one regular season game this season. He had seven goals and 36 assists and was plus-12 this season, while getting a team-high 25:14 of ice time per game. He added a goal and nine assists in 17 playoff games as the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference final. He also played for Russia at the Sochi Olympics. While he has slowed in a recent years, the Voskresensk, Russia native combines a solid defensive game with first-rate passing and playmaking skills from the point on power plays. "It wasnt easy when I had injuries, but I always stayed positive," Markov said. "The last two years I felt good. My health is good. I enjoy the game like I used to. Im looking forward to next season." Markov holds Russian and Canadian citizenship, having become a Canadian citizen in 2010. He was drafted in the sixth round, 162nd overall, by Montreal in 1998. He made his NHL debut in 2000. In 765 regular season games, he has 98 goals and 344 assists. His best seasons were 2007-08, when he had 16 goals and 58 points and 2008-09, when he had 12 goals and 64 points. He was the teams second potential free agent to sign ahead of July 1. Last week, forward Dale Weise inked a two-year contract that pays $1.025 million per season. Bergevin now faces negotiations with potential restricted free agents P.K. Subban and Lars Eller, while potential UFAs include captain Brian Gionta and defenceman Mike Weaver. Bart Starr Super Bowl Jersey . The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. Kyler Fackrell Super Bowl Jersey . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Paul-hornung-packers-jersey/ . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals. David Bakhtiari Super Bowl Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first. Josh Jackson Super Bowl Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Pardon Maxime Talbot if hes a little bit overwhelmed right now. He has a baby on the way and a new system to learn after being traded for the first time in his NHL career. The Colorado Avalanche acquired the veteran forward from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday in exchange for Steve Downie. Talbot is expected to be in Dallas when the Avs face the Stars on Friday night. The move is somewhat of a surprise, with Colorado off to a 10-1 start and leading its division. But Talbots elated that it came to fruition and is eager to get to work under first-year coach Patrick Roy. "Ive been following their great start to the season, what theyve been doing," Talbot said in a phone interview as he waited for a plane bound for Dallas. "Im really excited to be part of it." The 29-year-old Talbot had a goal and an assist for the Flyers this season. He has also played for Pittsburgh, helping the Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup title. His priorities once he arrives in town? Find a place to stay -- and then a new doctor. His fiance is due in February. "That brings a little bit of stress into play," Talbot said. "Were excited to do this in Denver." Talbot already knows quite a few players on the Avalanche, including Matt Duchene and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Oh, and video coach Mario Duhamel, too, Talbots coach when he was a teenager. "I get traded to a team that has a great deal of momentum right now. Its exciting," he saaid.dddddddddddd "Theyre on top of the league and theres a reason for that. Theyre a young team. They have a deep roster with a lot of young skill and they should be good for years to come." Part of the reason for the deal, Roy said, is to beef up the Avalanches penalty-kill unit. The team has been short-handed with forward Cody McLeod serving a five-game suspension for his hit along the boards on Detroit Red Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall two weeks ago. McLeod will sit out one more before returning to the lineup. "(Talbot) is a really good penalty-kill guy," Roy said. He has some scoring touch, too, finding the net 19 times in 2011-12. "I can bring versatility to the game and I like to play with emotion," Talbot said. "Ive heard only good things about Patrick Roy and the new wave." For Downie, this is a return to the city where he began his career. The Flyers drafted him with the 29th overall pick in 2005, before trading him to Tampa Bay in November 2008. The physical forward was acquired by the Avalanche in February 2012. Downie had a goal and six assists for Colorado this season. He missed most of last year with a knee injury. "Im excited to show Philly what an older Steve Downie looks like," he said. "I play the game hard. I like to play a physical game, crash the net as hard as I can. I play the game on the edge. "Im going to bring my energy every night and hopefully help this team win." ' ' '