MONTREAL - Andrei Markov will not be back with the Canadiens for the 2017-18 season. The veteran defenseman will be available to speak with reporters via conference call on Thursday afternoon (the release note says at his request).

Markov has spent his entire 16-year NHL career to date as a member of the Canadiens. Narrowly missing the 1,000-game milestone with 990 career games under his belt, the Russian rearguard sits sixth on the franchise's all-time leaderboard for games played. He has also suited up for 89 postseason tilts during his time with the Habs.

Since making his NHL debut in 2000, Markov has racked up 572 regular-season points, including 119 goals. He finished his final Canadiens campaign tied with Hall-of-Famer Guy Lapointe for second place in team history for points by a defenseman, and is ranked third for goals from the back end.

The 38-year-old blue-liner was drafted in the sixth round, 162nd overall by Montreal in 1998 and became a Canadian citizen in July 2010.