The Montreal Canadiens will have four alternate captains for the 2014-2015 season, the team announced Monday.
Tomas Plekanec, Max Pacioretty, Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban will all wear the A at certain points this season.
After former captain Brian Gionta was traded to the Buffalo Sabres during the offseason, speculation was rampant as to who would take his place.
As league rules dictate only three players can wear the A per game, Plekanec and Markov will wear it for all 82 games while Subban and Pacioretty will alternate, GM Marc Bergevin told reporters at the annual golf tournament in Laval-sur-le-Lac.
#Habs letters: Markov and Plekanec all 82. Subban first 41 home gms, Pacioretty first 41 road gms. Subban and Patch will flip mid-season.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) September 15, 2014
“It’s an honour and it shows we have a lot of people in the room who are more than capable of leading this team. It’s not just us four, there’s plenty of other guys,” Pacioretty said.
Subban said he was excited and honoured to be chosen to be one of the team’s official leaders.
“When you look at the great leaders that have worn letters for this organization and it’s such a rich history of players, to be in the category is something special, and you know I’m just happy to be amongst that group,” Subban said.
Plekanec said despite the media frenzy that surrounded the captaincy decision in the weeks since Gionta left town, that sense of urgency and competition didn’t trickle down to the player.
“We know how the room works, and there are a lot of guys that are leaders. This is a decision we’re all comfortable with,” he said.The Canadiens also said Monday that a day would be set aside to honour former captain Saku Koivu, who announced his retirement last week.
