Burnaby boy Karl Alzner didn’t win a $23 million lottery jackpot on Canada’s 150th birthday Saturday, it just felt like it. But in his case, he earned it.
After spending a decade in the Washington Capitals organization, the 28-year-old NHL free agent defenceman signed a five-year, $23,125,000 contract with the storied Montreal Canadiens.
During last week’s courting period prior to free agents being allowed to sign as of July 1, Alzner received offers from several teams, but he told reporters via a conference call the only city he visited was Montreal.
“I’m happy this whole process is done. It’s been crazy,” Alzner told TSN’s James Duthie in a FaceTime interview Saturday. “It’s definitely the best hockey city in the world and probably on the top of the majority of people’s list, so it’s pretty cool.”
Alzner was drafted fifth overall by the Capitals in the 2007 NHL entry draft. The former WHL Calgary Hitmen defender has spent his entire pro career in the Washington organization playing 591 games with the big club, scoring 19 goals and 117 points.
Alzner admitted the whole free agent process was very stressful.
“It was way, way harder than I was expecting,” said Alzner. “It’s kind of hard to explain the whole process, but you get so many people in your ear telling you one thing or another – teammates, friends, family – all that kind of stuff. You kind of expect a few things to go one way, and then all of a sudden they take a dip and turn and flip upside down. It was weird, for sure. I’m just glad that I was lucky enough to have teams that were interested in me, and got a few options and was able to make the best decision for the family.”
Alzner’s excited anticipation of the possibility of winning a Stanley Cup with Les Habitants was considerable.
“It’s pretty exciting, there’s no better place to win than Montreal. I can only imagine what it would do if could bring a championship home. I know everybody there, management and ownership, wants to do that and I’m excited about that,” said Alzner.
However, another thing that is considerable is the heat in the cauldron that is the coverage by the Montreal media of all things Canadiens. TSN analyst Ray Ferraro, who has known Alzner since he was a 14-year-old playing at the Burnaby Winter Club, thinks the affable Alzner will be able to handle the heat.
“I would say the one thing that won’t bug Karl is the scrutiny that he is going to get because there’s going to be some heat on him because he’s not going to put up a bunch of points. But his personality won’t be the type that will get flustered and won’t be something he’s not,” said Ferraro during TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy coverage.
NBC analyst Pierre McGuire then compared Alzner to Rick Green, who was a fan favourite during his seven seasons with the Canadiens in the 1980s despite being a defensive defenceman.
“He’s (Alzner) not going to be a defensive dynamo. He’s not going to be intimidated by the the theatre,” said McGuire.
In another free agent deal Saturday, defenceman Patrick Wiercioch, who played for the Burnaby Express of the BCHL in 2006-07, signed a one-year, $650,000 deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
After the signing, Wiercioch tweeted out, “Can’t describe how good it feels to be part of the team you grew up cheering for!”
Wiercioch, 26, was born in Burnaby but grew up in Maple Ridge. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators before landing with the Colorado Avalanche last season. The six-foot-five blueliner has played 268 NHL games scoring 16 goals and 74 points along with 138 penalty minutes.
“Patrick has excellent mobility for a player his size and possesses a big shot from the point,” said Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning in a Canucks press release. “He’ll add to our depth on the blue line and we’re excited to give him the opportunity to play for his hometown team.”
Wiercioch told TSN1040 Radio from his summer home in Kelowna that he sold programs and 50/50 tickets at Canucks home games when he was a kid. He said his strength of getting shots on goal will give the team’s forwards opportunities to score.
“To get a fresh start with your hometown team is pretty amazing,” said Wiercioch. “It’s got so many class individuals that been part of that locker room, their entire history with Trevor Linden on down, it’s a special feeling.
“To get a fresh start with a lot of guys going there in the same position, that’s what we’re hoping for, a lot of competition within the ranks, to be able to turn something around and make a negative a positive, that’s the most exciting part.”
Ferraro’s son Landon, another Burnaby boy, signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Minnesota Wild. His deal calls for him to make $700,000 a season if he plays in the NHL and $375,000 in the minors.
The six-foot Ferraro, 25, was a second-round pick, 32nd overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. He played 17 NHL games spread out over three seasons with the Wings scoring one goal. Last year, he played 58 games with the Boston Bruins collecting five goals and 10 points. He also scored seven goals and eight assists in 22 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves after being traded to the St. Louis Blues.
Dollar details
Payout structure of the five-year, $23,125,000 contract signed by Karl Alzner with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday:
Year 1 – $4 million salary, $2 million signing bonus
Year 2 – $6 million
Year 3 – $4.625 million
Year 4 – $1.5 million salary, $1.5 million signing bonus
Year 5 – $3.5 million
• Alzner also has a seven-team no-trade list
