NHL Free Agency 2017: 5 Worst Signings

4 of 5

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 01: Karl Alzner #27 of the Washington Capitals wears sunglasses during warm ups for the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park on January 1, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2. Karl Alzner – Montreal Canadiens

The contract: Five years, $23.5 million, seven team no trade clause.

Montreal Canadiens /

Montreal Canadiens

Why it’s terrible: The Montreal Canadiens lost Nathan Beaulieu and Alexei Emelin. They really needed to sign a defenseman, and Karl Alzner was probably one of the best available after Kevin Shattenkirk.

However, he doesn’t solve Montreal’s biggest issues. Sure, Alzner is a great defensive defenseman, if he’s healthy. But the Canadiens need some dynamic defenseman who can move the puck. They have enough clones of Alzner. Why not invest something in Michael Del Zotto instead? Del Zotto, by the way, signed a pretty good value deal with the Vancouver Canucks. When Jim Benning signs a defenseman to a better value contract than you did, you know you made an unwise decision.

Alzner’s deal could get ugly fast. He hasn’t missed a regular season game in over six seasons. That’s a little concerning because Alzner probably shouldn’t have been playing. Last season, he battled through a sports hernia. That’s an injury that often doesn’t just go away and can haunt players for the rest of their career.

Alzner has been declining over a two-year period as well, so it’s not like he just had one bad year. Five years is way too much of a risk, and a completely unnecessary one.

Home/Free Agency