Karl Alzner signed a five-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens on the first day of NHL free agency. The former Capitals defenseman spent all nine seasons of his NHL career with Washington, and at 28 years old he’ll go from contender to contender with a solid deal in Montreal.
Karl Alzner left the Capitals for the Canadiens because he ‘wants to win’
Washington’s postseason failures have “frustrated” the 28-year-old defenseman.
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Now that the dust is settling on the first day of free agency, players have started to talk to reporters about their new teams. Alzner spoke on Saturday about his reasoning behind signing with the Canadiens, and it doesn’t create a pretty picture for Capitals fans.
“I want to win... it was frustrating to keep getting stumped in the second round.”
The Capitals have been bounced from the playoffs the last two seasons by the Penguins in the second round. Washington has been eliminated from the playoffs in the second round five of their last six times in the postseason. According to Alzner, the defenseman has had enough of it.
The words have to sting for the Capitals and their fans, as getting past the second round has been a thorn in their side for awhile. Now, to hear that a player has left the team because of it, that twists the knife in deeper and may be worrisome for the organization that their poor playoff performances have caused players to think twice about signing with the team.
It is still unsure if Alzner will have an easier time making it further in the playoffs with Montreal, as the Canadiens have lost twice in the third round in their last six postseason appearances.
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