Alzner failed to mark the scoresheet through 19:43 of ice time during Thursday's 3-0 loss to Minnesota.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran defenseman has now gone nine games without registering a point and has just four assists and 14 shots through 17 contests for the campaign. Alzner entered Thursday starting 54.8 percent of his five-on-five shifts in his own zone and averaging 3:04 of shorthanded time per game. His current role keeps him off the fantasy radar in the majority of settings.

Alzner had a shorthanded assist, two shots on net, one hit and was minus-1 over 21:28 of ice time in Thursday's 3-2 shootout win over Buffalo.

EDGE Analysis

Alzner's defensive-zone poke check initiated a sequence that led to Phillip Danault's shorthanded, game-tying goal in the third period. It's the type of play that goes unnoticed, but is emblematic of Alzner's steady play on the blue line. The 29-year-old is one of three new faces on defense, so there may be some adjustment early on, something that showed Thursday when the Habs let 45 shots in on Carey Price.

Alzner will skate on the second defensive pairing alongside Jeff Petry when he makes his debut for Montreal on Thursday against Buffalo, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzner's received very little attention during training camp, as most of the ink and bytes have focused on 19-year-old defenseman Victor Mete, the Canadiens' habitual lack of goal-scoring, and the loss of significant pieces from last season's squad. Two of those gone from the team are defensemen Andrei Markov (21:50 ATOI) and Alexei Emelin (21:19). Alzner, a nine-year veteran who posted 3-10-13 totals and was plus-23 with the Capitals last season, plays a simple, but effective game on the blue line. He won't replace Markov's offense, but should quietly improve the defense in front of Carey Price.

Alzner has fully recovered from the hand injury he sustained in the first round of last season's playoffs.

EDGE Analysis

Alzner signed a five-year, $23.125 million contract with Montreal this offseason, so he'll be expected to slot in as a top-pairing defender alongside Shea Weber in 2017-18. The 28-year-old rearguard has never been known for his offensive contributions -- he's only cracked the 20-point mark twice during his nine years in the NHL -- but he should thrive as a shutdown defenseman in front of an elite goaltender in Carey Price.

Alzner (hand), as expected, signed a five-year, $23.125 million contract with the Canadiens on Saturday, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

EDGE Analysis

By acquiring Alzner, the Habs get one of the league's toughest shutdown defenders. We're talking about six straight seasons without missing a single contest, though an upper-body injury that Alzner sustained in mid-April snapped the ironman streak of 599 consecutive games played, and a hand injury that won't require surgery crept up in the postseason. Despite the new evidence that he's human, Alzner should attract any fantasy owner involved in a league that imposes a heavy scoring weight on defensive totals. He amassed 360 hits and 534 blocked shots in his last three years with the Caps, and he could be in line for a substantial role with speculation that Andrei Markov has played his last game as a Hab.

Alzner is expected to sign a five-year, $23 million deal with Montreal on Saturday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzner had visited with Montreal in the days before free agency's official July 1 start so the destination isn't all that surprising. The former fifth overall selection from the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has been a stalwart defensive defenseman for the Capitals over the last nine seasons, and has a regular-season ironman streak of seven seasons heading into 2017-18. The 28-year-old defenseman has a lot of tread on his tires, but he will be surely missed by the Capitals, who now find themselves down two top-four defensemen after losing Nate Schmidt to the Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft.

Alzner (hand) will hit the free agent market, effectively ruling him out as the Golden Knights' pick in the expansion draft, Pierre Lebrun of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Alzner's agent, he and Vegas had an "interesting chat", which leaves the door open for the defenseman to potentially sign with them after the start of free agency July 1. The 28-year-old is not known for his offensive contributions -- just 13 points in 82 games -- but rather as a shutdown defender who can take on opposing teams' top players. This past year, Alzner recorded a plus-14 rating along with 135 hits and 207 blocked shots, which may limit his fantasy value, but makes him a hot commodity for NHL general managers.

Alzner is not expected to be re-signed by the Capitals, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his post-season press conference, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan repeatedly referred to a top-four of John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, and Nate Schmidt. The implication here is that Alzner (hand), is not envisioned at this time to be part of the organization next season. A major caveat in all of this is whether the Caps lose a defenseman in the upcoming expansion draft, but given his off-year in 2016-17, spate of recent injuries, and the price tag he will likely command, it doesn't appear that the Capitals will break the bank to keep him and given MacLellan's comments, there's a good chance the 28-year-old defenseman will be moving on.

Alzner will not need surgery for a broken bone in his right hand, an injury that he sustained in the first round against the Maple Leafs, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzner is known as an ironman, having played in all 82 games of the regular season for four straight years and five of the past six. However, he proved to be human by missing five straight contests -- including a pair against the Penguins in the conference semifinals -- after blocking a shot. Given that Alzner was able to return for most of the series against Pittsburgh and surgery isn't necessary, we wouldn't let this ailment be a reason to avoid him in deep leagues.

Alzner (upper body) is back in the lineup Monday for Game 3 in Pittsburgh.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran rearguard sat out the last six games with the injury but has been skating for several days and is officially good to go. The Caps will carry seven defensemen in the contest, so it's unclear as to whether the injury is still bothering him and, as such, how much ice time he'll receive.