The 38-year-old may never play another one for the Canadiens, or in the NHL.

MONTREAL -- Defenseman Andrei Markov played his first game for the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 6, 2000, and he has played each of his 990 NHL games wearing the same uniform.

Markov, an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, said Thursday he was unable to agree to terms on a contract with the Canadiens, so he will return to his native Russia and play in the Kontinental Hockey League this season.

"My decision was made based on the family as well," Markov said. "I didn't see myself with any other NHL team, I didn't see myself wearing another jersey. Plus, it was going to be tough for the family, for the kids to move for one year to another city in North America. For them, it will be easy to adapt over there in Russia. So that was our decision, and that's it."

Markov said when he began negotiations with Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin, he was seeking a two-year contract. The second year on that contract would have coincided with the first of the eight-year, $84 million contract extension signed by goaltender Carey Price on July 2, making money tighter for the Canadiens.

Video: OTT@MTL: Markov rockets home PPG for second of game

But Markov said his terms changed over time.

"In the beginning, yes, I was asking [for] two years," Markov said. "It's more for the security of my family and myself. I feel great, I'm in good shape. I'm not planning to retire anytime soon. Don't worry about that guys.

"But in the end, I was ready to just to stay in Montreal. I was ready and willing to sign a one-year deal. It didn't work. I don't want to go through the details, but it didn't work."

A sixth-round pick (No. 162) in the 1998 NHL Draft, Markov has 572 points (119 goals, 453 assists) in 990 regular-season games in the League and 32 points (five goals, 27 assists) in 89 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He is tied with Guy Lapointe for second place on the Canadiens' all-time scoring list for defensemen behind Larry Robinson (883 points).

"Arguably one of the best defensemen in franchise history, Andrei was a model of dedication to the great game of hockey," president and chief executive officer Geoff Molson said in a statement.

When Markov made his Canadiens debut, Bill Clinton was in the White House and Jean Chretien was prime minister of Canada. He has played for seven coaches, including Michel Therrien, Claude Julien and Bob Gainey each on two separate occasions.

He has been around for a long time.

Over that time, Markov was never known for being a great conversationalist, either with the media or even his teammates. But on Thursday, Markov spoke for 30 minutes, and on several occasions during that time, it was clear how difficult it was for him to talk about leaving the Canadiens.

Reading a prepared opening statement, Markov at one point said, "I guess now it's time to move on."

That was followed by a four-second pause before Markov continued reading and said, "It is sad for me to leave."

It would be easier to understand the Canadiens being unable to agree to terms with Markov if they were able to easily replace him on the left side of their defense. They acquired defenseman David Schlemko in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 22, signed defenseman Karl Alzner to a five-year contract on July 1, and also agreed to terms with defenseman Mark Streit on a one-year contract Tuesday.

All of them, in addition to Brandon Davidson and free agent signing Jakub Jerabek, play the left side, but none of them is an adequate replacement for Markov.

Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, who played more minutes with Markov than anyone else over the past 10 seasons, attended his former defense partner's wedding in Russia earlier in July.

He was shocked at the news Thursday.

"I can't really envision the Montreal Canadiens without Andrei Markov on the blue line. That's No. 1," Subban told NHL.com. "Even before I played for the team, I watched him play for the team and be their best defenseman. Even while I was there, I still thought he was our best defenseman, even though a lot of people thought because of what I got paid it was me. You can't really put a price tag on how he plays because he's so smart, the way he sees the ice.

"Anyone who's played with him knows how good he is."

Markov earned what may be his final point in the NHL on March 29 with an assist on a goal by forward Artturi Lehkonen, who was 5 years old in 2000 when Markov began his NHL career. Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty repeatedly said that night that if Markov were to leave the team, he would score 10 fewer goals per season.

That theory is about to be put to the test.

"Everybody on the team always has such great chemistry with [Markov] because he always makes the next play so much easier for you, even the spin he puts on the puck when he passes to you, the area he puts it in," Pacioretty said that night. "That stuff doesn't really get recognized the higher up you watch the game. But when you're at ice level and you're out there with him, that stuff doesn't go unnoticed.

"I know that's why people respect his game so much."