upon the conclusion of the 2008–09 season, koivu tied jean béliveau as the longest-serving captain in team history, having held the position for ten years. koivu's tenure ended a ten-year period from 1999 to 2009 in which six canadien team captains had previously been traded away. becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, koivu and the canadiens parted ways after 14 years, where on july 8, 2009, he signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the anaheim ducks, playing alongside countryman and fellow nhl veteran teemu selänne. koivu was named an alternate captain of the ducks before the 2009–10 season began.