Report: Four NHL teams after Habs defenseman Alzner via trade

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Karl Alzner played his first AHL game in nearly a decade earlier this week and, wouldn’t you know it, he popped his first goal in 322 days. After clearing waivers, Alzner accepted a demotion to the AHL’s Laval Rocket but according to a report from The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the veteran blue liner could find himself back in the NHL in short order.

Pagnotta reported earlier today that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche are all teams who have reached out to Habs general manager Marc Bergevin in an attempt to broker a deal.

Check it out:

Since being placed on waivers, Karl Alzner has generated extra trade interest. Hearing DAL, TOR, NYI, COL among teams that have reached out. Habs being asked to take a player back and retain part of Alzner’s contract. Nothing imminent, we’ll see if things materialize.

Interesting… especially since Alzner was on waivers just days ago. The thing is, while claiming a player off waivers costs nothing in terms of assets, the team making a claim is bound to the player’s full contract. With a trade, the two sides can come to an agreement on salary retention or balance things out with a second or third player in the deal. In other words, the Leafs, Stars, Islanders and Avalanche could now come to the Habs and say, “We want Alzner, but not at $4.625 million per season.” The Habs can retain salary in a trade, thereby making Alzner much more of an appealing player on the trade market. 

It’ll be interesting to see how things develop, particularly if Alzner continues to play strong in the AHL. There’s no denying his experience and that he’s a NHL calibre defenseman, but with his anchor of a contract, it’ll be tough for the Habs to get much in return for him on the trade market, if anything.