Photo: NHL.com
According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Montreal Canadiens placed defenseman Karl Alzner on waivers on Tuesday for purposes of buying out the final two seasons on his five-year contract, which carried a $4.5 million cap hit. He will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.
Karl Alzner (Montreal) on buyout waivers today
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 6, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAfter not missing a regular-season game for eight seasons (2011-18), the 32-year-old has played just 13 NHL games over the past two seasons. When he has been with the NHL club, he has been a healthy scratch most of the time.
In 87 AHL games with the Laval Rocket over the past two seasons, Alzner has posted two goals, 19 points, and a +6 rating. Alzner appeared in just four NHL games this past year.
The buyout will cost the Canadiens $3,958,333 against the salary cap this year, $1,958,333 in 2021-22, and $833,333 in each of the next two seasons.
Alzner has 2 years left on $4.625M Cap Hit Deal w/ $6.5M salary remaining. Buyout breakdown:
Year 1: $3.96M Cap Hit ($667K Savings)
Year 2: $1.96M Cap Hit ($2.67M Savings)
Year 3/4: $833K Cap Hit/CostNote: Burying in minors this year would save $1.075Mhttps://t.co/C8LnYsMZKh https://t.co/Sp3WloP3xz pic.twitter.com/WjTnStbDgQ
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) October 6, 2020
Alzner was selected fifth overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2007 NHL Draft and recorded 19 goals, 117 points, and a +61 rating in 591 games with the team. His best season with the Capitals came in 2014-15, when he recorded a career-high five goals, matched a career-high 21 points, and posted a +14 rating in 82 games.
Statement from Karl Alzner @Sportsnet #gohabsgo pic.twitter.com/Qv4wBX2RN2
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 6, 2020
Unfortunately, the change of playing style in the NHL has pushed Alzner out as he is much more of a shot-blocking defenseman than a mobile, puck-mover, which doesn’t check the boxes for what most teams are looking for.
By Harrison Brown