Karl Alzner
The Montreal Canadiens signed Karl Alzner back in 2017. He famously said he signed with the Canadiens because he “wanted to win”. In fact, Alzner implied the Capitals postseason woes factored into his decision.
Alzner couldn't overlook #Caps playoff failures: "I want to win. ... It was frustrating to keep getting stumped in the second round."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 1, 2017
Oh boy, did that quote age poorly or what? The Capitals won the Stanley Cup one year later without Alzner. Meanwhile, Alzner has played in a total of 13 games over the past two seasons after playing in all 82 games during the 2017-18 season.
It hasn’t been due to health either. Alzner has regularly been in the AHL, playing in 87 games for the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens AHL affiliate, over the past two seasons.
Trading Alzner is not an option for the Canadiens, who has at least six better left-handed options than him. He’s not an NHL defenseman at this point. The Canadiens can afford to bury part of his $4.625 million cap hit in the minors, but now’s a good time to get out of his contract.
If Montreal buys him out, they will save $666,667 next season and $2,666,667 during the 2021-22 season. For the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, it would cost the Canadiens $833,333 annually.
Alzner has never been a fit in Montreal. The Canadiens have been waiting for the perfect time to buy him out. That time is now.