The Montreal Canadiens: Who Will Lead Them?

Analyst Written on July 06, 2009

MONTREAL- APRIL 22: Saku Koivu #11 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares for a faceoff during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre on April 22, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Canadiens 4-1 winning the series 4-0. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Well, the Montreal Canadiens roster officially got trimmed by one more player.

Despite a “rally of the masses” on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre, Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey told CJAD radio on Monday that Alex Kovalev would not be returning.

Fans rallied Sunday to keep Alex Kovalev in Montreal

Hours later, Kovalev took the money—$10 million over two years—and ran up the highway to the Ottawa Senators.

The Northeast Division will be fun to watch this season, without a doubt.

With Kovalev’s departure and the likely signing of Saku Koivu to either Buffalo, Atlanta, Anaheim, or whatever square Eklund’s rumor dart hit this afternoon, this leaves the captain and all the assistant captains from last season's team off to greener pastures. Mike Komisarek defected to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 and Christopher Higgins was traded to the New York Rangers on June 30.

The question now has to be asked, who will be the next captain?

Andrei Markov has been an assistant captain in the past, but is unlikely to be captain. You have to remember that Koivu was criticized for not speaking French. Markov can barely speak English so it’s safe to rule him out. The Kostitsyn brothers? Georges Laraque ? Forget it!

Scott Gomez seems to be an early popular choice, despite not playing one game for the Canadiens. Sorry Mr. Gomez, but there’s too much tradition to just walk in and take the “C." Ditto for Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta.

In all likelihood two of these three will be alternate captains.

Young bucks Josh Gorges, Maxim Lapierre, and maybe Guillaume Latendresse would be good choices as an alternate captains in my opinion, but I feel none of this trio is at a full leadership level.

Roman Hamrlik is the long-time veteran on the team, but could be moved before the start of the season.

In any event, the Canadiens have never gone without a captain in their history.

Jean Beliveau is the Canadiens’ longest-serving captain

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