The Montreal Canadiens are working with Karl Alzner for a future trade
By Omar L
Although Karl Alzner cleared waivers and is in the AHL, the Montreal Canadiens are still working on a way to rectify the situation with a trade.
The surprise behind Karl Alzner‘s waive is long gone, and with the 30-year-old with the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens have some time to breath. Well, not exactly.
Montreal still has decisions to make as the calendar gets closer to the day injured players in Paul Byron, Nikita Scherbak, Joel Armia, and Noah Juulsen return. Additionally, just because Alzer is in the AHL, it doesn’t mean he would like to stay there.
As I pointed out in a previous article, the Montreal Canadiens have their options as to how they can handle the veteran’s status within the organization moving forward. Management could choose to leave him in Laval for the rest of the season, or try to work the phones and find a taker for Alzner and his contract. The ‘trade’ scenario was one of the topics discussed on Insider Trading last night via Pierre Lebrun who said:
"What’s happening is agent JP Barry is working with Habs GM Marc Bergevin to possibly find him a new home. It won’t be easy with that contract but perhaps the Habs can eat some of it or take a contract back, or the Habs trade another defenceman and make room again for Alzner. Either way, JP Barry has clearance to speak directly to other teams."
As Lebrun mentioned in his hit, moving Alzner won’t be for the faint of heart. He has another three years left at $4.625 million per after this season is over and teams aren’t going to be so willing to take on a contract of that magnitude (relatively speaking).
Moving Alzner could place the Montreal Canadiens at the short end of the stick as far as the return or the circumstances in the trade. But Bergevin may be satisfied with the fact that he was able to make the deal instead of leaving him in the minors all year.
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