Karl Alzner

Karl Alzner admits that he’s nervous about free agency: ‘I might have to go to a new team’

As many star hockey players approach unrestricted free agency, they get excited about the big money and the even bigger opportunity that awaits them on July 1. But Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner is of a different breed.

As Alzner sat on a New York City-bound train Wednesday morning, he called in to Boomer & Warrener of Sportsnet 960 and opened up about his anxiety as a UFA.

“I am a little bit nervous about it just because there is a chance that I might have to go to a new team which is weird because it’s nice to be in a same spot for your whole career,” Alzner said. “It’s nice that I haven’t had to have any sort of move. I feel really comfortable in DC. It is a little strange to think that I might be somewhere else next year, but at the same time there is a little bit of excitement to maybe look around the league and have some options.”

While Alzner hasn’t come to grips of leaving the Capitals, it appears that he’s no longer in the team’s plans. In an interview Tuesday, general manager Brian MacLellan did not mention the longtime Capital in the team’s top-four next season. MacLellan also revealed that he thinks the team is only capable of signing one of its high-profile UFAs, which is rumored to be TJ Oshie.

In his conversation with Boomer & Warrener, Alzner also spoke about his year with the Caps and the team’s postseason struggles.

A transcript of the relevant bits is below.

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‘This is home’: After spending entire career with Capitals, Karl Alzner faces an uncertain future

With the fifth overall pick in 2007 the Washington Capitals drafted a star defensemen from the Calgary Hitman, one with 47 points in 63 games who could shut down opposing forwards. Since then Karl Alzner has played 789 regular season and playoff games for the Washington Capitals organization. He’s been around for the remaking of the Caps, winning two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears. In Hershey he played alongside future NHL stars few people had ever heard of — guys like Braden Holtby.

Alzner began playing in Washington during the 2008-09 season, dressing for 30 games. He would later play 599 straight games in red, white, and blue.

“We consider this home,” Alzner said, referring to his wife Mandy and their two children who were born in the DC area. “Whenever we say we’re going home or we’re filling out any paperwork, this is home.”

“We’ve met a lot of great people and we love it here,” he continued.

But now Alzner is an unrestricted free agent. Speaking Friday, Alzner knew he may have played his final game with the Caps.

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