Montreal Canadiens: Karl Alzner wants out

After playing just nine games in the NHL last season, Karl Alzner has expressed his desire to return to the big leagues for good. Is Montreal willing to listen?

Last season, Karl Alzner was a healthy scratch for the Montreal Canadiens on opening night. Claude Julien‘s decision snapped Alzner’s Iron Man streak that was over eight seasons long. Julien’s explanation seemed quite petty, as he told the media that he picked the 20 best players and that he would “adjust for the second game depending on how things go tonight.

Not many adjustments were necessary for Julien’s eyes, as Alzner played just 9 games last season with the Canadiens and spent the rest of his time with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.

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Alzner was acquired in the summer before the 2017-18 season. He was projected to be a shutdown top-pairing defenseman. Instead, Alzner didn’t play up to the expectations and it became apparent that he couldn’t keep up with the speed of today’s NHL.

After spending a season in the AHL, Alzner has been blunt with his position in the organization.

“If I don’t have a position on the Habs, I want a position somewhere else”

He wants to play in the NHL, but at 31 years old, it’s going to be tough to find him a spot. The Canadiens still have him for three more years at 4.6 million dollars a season and that will be a very tough contract to move, especially with his skating on a decline.

Not many teams want an aging defenceman making almost $5 million a year and the Canadiens will have to retain if they want any chance at moving him. Alzner has already expressed interest in the other sides of the sport, including coaching and media and perhaps that is his next move.

It’s clear the Canadiens don’t have much interest in him. When the season was over, he didn’t have an exit meeting but had a quick conversation with Joel Bouchard who is the head coach for the Laval Rocket. This is what Alzner described the interaction:

“Our meeting was two or three minutes long, just thanks and enjoy your summer.”

If the Canadiens aren’t interested in giving him another chance and he is unable to find another team to take him in, this might be the end of the road for Alzner. His playing career may be over, but his passion for the game runs much deeper and it won’t be hard for him to find another way to be around the sport.