Water in the basement

[caption id="attachment_34" align="aligncenter" width="620" caption="Photograph by: DAVE SIDAWAY THE GAZETTE"][/caption]

The opening of NHL Training Camp should be a time of great optimism for every team and their fans.

Rookies and new arrivals ready to make a positive impression.

Getting back on the ice and starting to build up team chemistry.

Dreams of hoisting the Cup, and most importantly everyone is healthy and ready to go.

Instead we hear the 3 words that any professional athlete loathes: Dr. James Andrews.

Even with the fine work of Dr. Andrews and a carefully structured off season re-hab program, Andrei Markov’s surgically repaired right knee has experienced a setback.

After 2 surgeries on his ACL, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. In the past few weeks there were grumblings, rumours and whispers of knee-related issues.

I’m skeptical that he will be able to play more than 30 games this season, and heres why:

It has been officially revealed that there have been some “fluid related complications” with Markov’s surgically repaired knee.

Markov said "I have water in my basement."

You know, I had water in my basement too. It ended up costing me about $20 000 and months of aggravation. It also ruined my Hockey Card collection and autographed Johnny Bucyk Hockey Stick.

This water in the basement could cost the Habs millions of dollars and more importantly one of their top defensemen.

Even after a cleanup, water in the basement has a tendency of leaking back in.

I ended up cutting my losses and selling the house – I hope the Habs have better luck than I did.