Karl Alzner went back in time to the not-too-distant past when he saw the name Joel Armia on waivers. In his second season of a lucrative four-year contract with the Canadian, Alzner headed to the Laval Rocket. A scenario that now awaits Armia.
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In theory, Armia will hit the Rocket ice for his first practice session with his new teammates on Wednesday morning. As he is placed on waivers and ignored by the 31 other NHL teams, the mysterious right winger will begin a painful chapter in his career.
Alzner knows this refrain. The former Washington Capitals were acquired by Marc Bergevin on the free agent market on July 1, 2017 for $23.125 million for five years (average $4.625 million) and played a full season at CH before moving to the category of the unloved.
In the stands for the first five games of the 2018–2019 season, Alzner was waived on November 26, 2018. The next day he took over management of Laval and the American League. It simply wasn’t in Claude Julien’s plans.
“It was a terrible feeling,” Alzner recalled in a telephone interview with the Journal from his home in McLean, Virginia, a town near Washington. Like Armia, I had been playing in the NHL for a long time and didn’t want to be relegated to the American League. You have to try to rebuild yourself, but it’s not easy. »
“I don’t know what the plans are for Joel, but it’s like a kick in the butt. There are no 50 miracle solutions. He has to go to Laval and work hard to make ends meet. But it’s still shocking and brutal news. »
Joel Armia archive photo, Martin Chevalier
An advice
Alzner, a former Armia teammate for a few games in 2018-2019, gave him simple advice for his departure to Laval.
“The Canadian made this decision for a reason, but he cannot give up,” he replied. He has to become the player they want to see in Montreal again. In my opinion, Joel has enough talent to make it. He needs to show them that he is angry and still hungry. »
“The Army has the talent to destroy the American League,” he continued. If he wants, he can easily become one of the five best players in this league. »
Before he got a metro ticket to Laval in 2018, Alzner had played 681 games in the NHL: 591 with the Capitals and 90 with the CH. In the case of Armia, he has 439 games of experience.
A professional at heart
Bergevin had written the final scenario for Alzner’s transition within the CH organization by buying out his contract in October 2020. On a five-year deal, the British Columbia defenseman will not only have played 82 games in 2017-2018, 9 games in 2019-2020 and 5 games in 2020-2021.
He wore the Rocket jersey for 34 games in 2018-2019 and another 53 games the following season.
Photo Martin Chevalier
While Armia is an introvert by nature, Alzner didn’t have the same profile at all. During his time at Laval, he used his own pride to act as a mentor to the team’s younger players. Joël Bouchard had praised his defender’s professionalism more than once.
“I remained the same person, but it wasn’t easy for me,” he said five years later. I found myself in an unfortunate situation. I hadn’t spoken to anyone at the Canadiens before I was released to the American League. I was in a fog. But I could predict it a little. »
“As athletes, we all have egos. Luckily, I’m not the guy with the biggest ego. I hated it when a player who wasn’t playing or a player who had to return to the American League threw a tantrum. I didn’t want to become that player. I didn’t want to be a distraction or act like a baby. »
Two possible options
Today Alzner speaks from a distance about his history with the Rocket. But he still has questions.
“I have spoken to several coaches over the last few years to find out if I did the right thing,” he explained. I had two options. I could remain a professional or express my displeasure. Coaches often told me that the right decision was to work hard and stay silent. But often a person who grumbles gets out of his misfortune more quickly. A team wants to get rid of their problem. »
Getty Images via AFP
The likeable defense attorney used an English expression to illustrate his words: “The squeaky wheel gets grease in the end.” »
“I could have shown my feelings, but that wasn’t me. »