Detroit Signs Defenseman Markov

The Canadian Press reported on Wednesday that free agent defenseman Danny Markov has agreed to terms with the Detroit Red Wings.

Earlier in the day the Detroit Free Press had reported that the Red Wings were close to signing an unnamed “top four defenseman.”

The Red Wings will be Markov’s sixth NHL team and his fifth in the last five seasons. He entered the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected him in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Markov spent last season with the Nashville Predators. In addition to Nashville and Toronto, he has also played with Phoenix, Carolina and Philadelphia in a career spanning 472 games.

The deal is for one year at $2.5 million, a small raise from Markov’s last contract.

Markov will be expected to help fill the role of Jiri Fischer, who the Red Wings do not expect to return from the heart ailment that caused him to collapse during a November 21, 2005, game against the Predators.

“He’s tough to play against,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “He has a reputation as an agitator, and he brings a different dimension to our team. He’s a top-four defenseman who can play a lot of minutes, and we expect he’ll be a good fit for our team.”