After the end of the season, it was announced that Markkanen would return to the Russian Super League, where he played during the 2004–05 lockout-season for Lada Togliatti. Markkanen's new club was the famous Russian side CSKA Moscow, where he made 25 appearances during the 2008-09 campaign. He left on April 7, 2009 and signed with EV Zug of the Swiss Nationalliga A. His first Zug stint ended at the conclusion of the 2012–13 season, when he opted to return to his native Finland.