Unrestricted free agent defenseman Karl Alzner has signed a five-year contract worth $4.625 million per season with the Montreal Canadiens. Alzner is a solid defensman that will add top four depth to his new home, an invaluable asset for any team wishing to push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Per @DarrenDreger, Alzner terms in MTL: 5 x $4.625M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Report: Karl Alzner To Sign with the Montreal Canadiens
Alzner, 28, has played his entire 591-game NHL career with the Washington Capitals. Washington took Alzner with the 5th overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. During his career with the Capitals, Alzner has proven himself to be a very reliable top four defenseman for what has been one of the best teams in the league year in and year out.
Excluding the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Alzner has played in all 82 games for the last five full seasons. Alzner also played in all 48 games in the lockout shortened season as well. Having a defenseman of his caliber that is also able to play all 82 games every season is a great addition to any organization.
Alzner, known as a defensive-minded defenseman, isn’t ever going to contribute much in the way of point production. Alzner’s highest point total in a season was a whopping 21, which he had in both the 2014-15 season and 2015-16 season. He had five goals and 16 assists in the former, and four goals and 17 assists in the latter. Alzner had three goals and 10 assists in 82 games last season for the President’s Trophy-winning Capitals.
Despite his point production not being anywhere near elite, he is well-known for being able to play with anyone he encounters. On top of that, Alzner is an extremely disciplined defenseman with only 177 penalty minutes over the course of 591 games. The highest single season total Alzner has ever had was 29 minutes back in the 2011-12 season.
What is likely a product of the pairing he played on, Alzner had the third-worst Corsi-For percentage on the Capitals in 2016-17, with a 47.25% mark. This is down from the 49.77% rate that Alzner had the season before.
All analytics courtesy of Puckanalytics.
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