Canadiens to name captain before end of camp; Galchenyuk to play center

The Montreal Canadiens will have a team captain this season, and forward Alex Galchenyuk will be shifted to center.

General manager Marc Bergevin told reporters Thursday that the club will name their captain prior to the end of training camp.

"Some guys just got in last night," Bergevin said. "I think it's important to talk to everybody before (making a decision)."

Bergevin also said the captaincy won't be given to goaltender Carey Price, last year's Hart and Vezina Trophy winner.

Montreal played without a captain in 2014-15, instead naming P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Max Pacioretty, and Tomas Plekanec as alternate captains.

The last designated Montreal captain was forward Brian Gionta, who served in the role from 2010 until 2014, when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres.

Bergevin also confirmed that Galchenyuk will play center in 2015-16. The team has been planning to move the 21-year-old off the wing since last September.

The GM said he met with his young forward in June, and that Galchenyuk is looking forward to the opportunity.

Galchenyuk scored 20 goals in 80 games in 2014-15, his third season with the Canadiens. He was drafted third overall by Montreal in 2012.