Montreal Canadiens: The cap-hit from a Karl Alzner buyout isn’t worth it
Buying out Karl Alzner’s sounds like an easy fix for the Montreal Canadiens, but the cap-hit that comes in year two could be very problematic.
Ever since the end of the 2017-18 season, Montreal Canadiens fans have been discovering ways to move Karl Alzner. A trade is a go-to scenario, but his contract isn’t an ideal one, especially after this past season where he spent the majority of the year in an NHL press box or in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. Assuming the Habs don’t find a way to input some shenanigans and get Alzner’s contract terminated, a compliance buyout seems to be the way.
Not the first or the last to discuss this issue. If you go on Capfriendly and use their buyout calendar, Alzner’s name is already there as one of the most used calculations.
To go through it quickly, Alzner’s buyout cap hit would last for six years (as there are three years remaining on his deal) and equate to 2/3 of his remaining contract value as he’s 30 years old. Therefore, the Montreal Canadiens would be on the hook for $1,069,444 against the cap next season as well as years 4-6.
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That’s not bad at all. A little north of league minimum for a standard player contract. Year three has the Montreal Canadiens on the hook for $2,194,444. Again, not the worst amount of money that can be applied to a player who isn’t part of the organization anymore. Year two is where the issues arise.
The Habs would be on the hook for $4,194,444. That in of itself isn’t good, but it gets worse when considering where the Montreal Canadiens will be at that point.
They currently have $11,706,191 in cap space with some possible free agents to re-sign in Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia to name a few. Additionally, there’s a chance a key player may join the fold if there is any weight to the Matt Duchene and/or Erik Karlsson rumours. But the 2020-21 season is going to be an interesting one in Montreal.
Max Domi will need a new contract coming off his two-year bridge at $3,150,000. If he has the same season as this past one, especially at the centre position, his ask is going to be a significant one. And that’s not all, Victor Mete, Noah Juulsen, Jake Evans, and Lukas Vejdemo will be in the same boat.
Marc Bergevin has never been shy to move players around, but these are five names who have had an impact on the organization for the better. If the plan is to keep all five, having a $4 million black hole is a massive downer.
The Montreal Canadiens will find a way to move Karl Alzner at this point. His play doesn’t compliment the new age NHL and the style the Habs have implemented along their blue line in the last year. But it can’t be a buy out based on that 2020-21 black hole.
Next. Bring a Championship to the Organization. dark
It’s moments like these where general managers have to be creative. Trading Alzner will be difficult, but Bergevin will have to find a way to sweeten the pot which could come at the hands of a skilled prospect who the Montreal Canadiens are relatively okay with passing along.