TSN.ca Staff
9/30/2009 7:40:00 PM

For the first time in their 100-year history, the Montreal Canadiens will start the season without a captain.

General manager Bob Gainey told reporters on Wednesday that the team will wait a bit longer before naming a captain and that no one will be wearing the ‘C’ when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

The Canadiens have had a vacancy since the club bid adieu to Saku Koivu over the summer, allowing him to sign with the Anaheim Ducks.

Koivu, the second-longest serving captain in team history behind only the legendary Jean Beliveau, was not the only leader to part ways with the club, as last season’s alternate captains – Alex Kovalev, Christopher Higgins and Mike Komisarek – were not retained.

Defenceman Andrei Markov is the lone player from last year’s roster who wore an ‘A’ on his jersey.

Markov is one of several names considered for the captaincy, along with forwards Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta.