Karl Alzner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on September 24, 1988, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Alzner started playing hockey at a young age and was drafted fifth overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Alzner played for the Capitals for nine seasons, from 2008 to 2017, before signing with the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent. He played for the Canadiens for two seasons, from 2017 to 2019, before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2019. Alzner played for the Canucks for one season, from 2019 to 2020, before being placed on waivers and eventually being assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL).
Throughout his NHL career, Alzner was known for his defensive skills and his ability to play a physical game. He was a reliable defenseman who could be counted on to play a lot of minutes and to shut down opposing teams' top players. Alzner was also a good skater and had a good hockey sense, which allowed him to make smart plays and to contribute offensively when needed.
Alzner's best season in the NHL was in 2011-2012, when he played in all 82 games for the Capitals and recorded 1 goal and 16 assists for 17 points. He was also a key player for the Capitals during their playoff runs in 2009 and 2012, helping the team reach the second round both times.
Despite his solid play and consistent performance, Alzner's career took a downturn in his later years. He struggled to keep up with the speed of the game and was often a healthy scratch for the Canadiens and Canucks. In 2020, he was placed on waivers by the Canucks and was eventually assigned to the AHL, where he played for the Laval Rocket.
In conclusion, Karl Alzner had a successful NHL career as a reliable and physical defenseman. He played for three different teams over the course of his career and was known for his defensive skills and his ability to shut down opposing teams' top players. While his career took a downturn in his later years, Alzner will be remembered as a solid player who contributed to his teams' success.
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