Karine Hains: Looking Ahead: Karl Alzner Will Alzner spent most of last season in the AHL, he's not willing to suffer the same fate this season...

Karine
Hains: Looking Ahead: Karl Alzner
Will Alzner spent most of last season in the AHL, he's not willing to suffer the same fate this season...
- Karine Hains

Well done Special K.

Not sure Folin/Reilly are better than Alzner. I could see the Habs give him a good chance to prove he still belongs (then trade him if...possible).

As for Kulak, correct me if i’m Wrong, he kinda looked good next to Petry on most nights he played with him. I know Chiarrot should start the season with Petry but what if he gels with Weber?

does the salary difference between alzner and the young guys even matter? all but slightly over 1 mil counts towards the cap if he's sent to the minors so the difference would only be 1.075 mil minus whatever the younger guys' salary is. in the case of kulak i dont think there would be no difference since they both count towards the cap if sent down (minus the 1.075 savings which would apply to both). in the case of juulsen the savings would be 200k.

with that in mind i think you just play whoever is best if you're fighting for a playoff spot.

He doesn't exactly have all that much choice, does he? Unless the Habs get a decent deal somehow, he either manages to get a spot, is sent to the AHL or refuses to report and there's a procedure to get rid of the contract.

love Alzner, but he's not an NHL'r anymore.

Karine
Hains: Looking Ahead: Karl Alzner
Will Alzner spent most of last season in the AHL, he's not willing to suffer the same fate this season...
- Karine Hains

turn around Karine. turn! make a complete 180 degres turn.
now take out your binoculars. then you will see Alzner. far far away.

turn around Karine. turn! make a complete 180 degres turn.
now take out your binoculars. then you will see Alzner. far far away.
- fidopro

While we'd all like to think that he's far behind, the lack of buying him out this summer means that he's still very much with us...

Im kind of concerned that Alzner has no clue what the issue is. Probably not fair not to provide an exit interview, make him aware that he is slow, constantly out of position, and makes poor choices with the puck. However, if I was an NHLer and needed to know what the issue was, I would look at the video from the 9 NHL games played, and actually see where the other teams player are in relation to my position.

Onus is on you Carl....

I guess we would have to retain salary in order to trade Alzner. At least 50%. I can understand Bergevin prefers to keep him in Laval and buy his contract at the end of the season. I can see him fit as a 7-8th d-man on a team needing depth. Not sure Reilly or Folin are much better than him, maybe Reilly is on a good day.

I also see Kulak play with Petry and Chiarot play with Juulsen or Folin. Chiarot is a Jordie Benn, maybe slightly better but it would take a photo finish to be sure.

While we'd all like to think that he's far behind, the lack of buying him out this summer means that he's still very much with us...
- Karine Hains

Did not make sense, cap wise, to buy him out at the time. Of course, given MB's utter failure at using the Habs cap space to his advantage this summer, would not have mattered either way.

send him down and hope he doesn't report

Alzner is done in the NHL. From what I saw last year, Folin is much better than Alzner. Reilly makes mistakes too, but can skate and is an offensive d-man, much more suited for the new style of play in the NHL.

Alzner is at best #9 (Weber, Mete, Peter, Chariot, Kulak, Juulsen, Folin, Reilly) on the Habs D depth chart.
4+ million for a #9?!

Hello Laval! Goodbye NHL!

p.s. Again, BRUTAL signing MB!