Alzner signed a five-year, $23.125-million contract with the Canadiens on July 1, 2017. Shea Weber could make his season debut Tuesday, so a roster spot and cap room needed to be cleared.
The 30-year-old blue-liner has been in and out of the lineup this season, picking up one assist in eight games. Last season he tallied 12 points in 82 contests for the Habs.
Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing five moves you should make. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Drop Ilya Kovalchuk
Team: Kings Position: LW/RW Ownership: 68 percent
Kovalchuk played just 6:20 in the Los Angeles Kings' 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night due to what bench boss Willie Desjardins said was a coach's decision. Here's a look at Kovalchuk's numbers before and after John Stevens' firing:
Stat
Stevens
Desjardins
GP
13
10
G
4
1
A
7
2
P
11
3
S
33
16
ATOI
19:11
15:15
Kovalchuk had three points in Desjardins' debut but has been held off the scoresheet since. Drop him now, as his lack of production and Green Jacket-caliber plus/minus rating (-13) is detrimental to your lineup.
Scoop up Shea Weber
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Team: Canadiens Position: D Ownership: 57 percent
Weber could return to the Montreal Canadiens' lineup Tuesday against the Hurricanes. He hasn't played in over 11 months due to foot and knee injuries, so it's possible it takes him some time to get back up to speed.
However, Weber's biggest weapon, his shot, shouldn't be impacted by his ailments, and he'll likely get every chance to unleash his howitzer on a 30th-ranked power play that could desperately use a trigger man.
If Weber is sitting on the waiver wire, he needs to be added, but until we see how he performs after missing nearly a year, it's not worth giving up any trade assets in order to acquire him.
Take a flier on Dylan Strome in deeper/keeper leagues
Team: Blackhawks Position: C Ownership: 3 percent
Strome was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks along with Brendan Perlini in exchange for Nick Schmaltz on Sunday night. The former third overall pick has failed to make any impact whatsoever at the NHL level, tallying 16 points in 48 career games.
A change of scenery isn't going to solve Strome's lack of foot speed, so expectations should be tempered. However, the highly skilled center wasn't exactly given a fair shake in the desert, as he was routinely stuck on the Arizona Coyotes' fourth line.
It appears Strome will be given a chance to center Chicago's second line, reuniting him with his former Erie Otters linemate Alex DeBrincat. Strome needs to be surrounded by quickness, and it's possible that he and DeBrincat could regain the chemistry that made them one of the OHL's most prolific duos from 2014-15 to 2016-17.
Strome isn't worth adding in standard 10- or 12-team leagues - at least not yet - but he's worth picking up in leagues with 14-plus users or keeper leagues.
Add Alex Tuch
David Becker / National Hockey League / Getty
Team: Golden Knights Position: RW Ownership: 32 percent
Tuch has 17 points in as many games this season, but his hot start hasn't caught on with fantasy users, as he's owned in less than one-third of leagues. He's been especially hot of late, picking up five points in his last three contests, forming great chemistry with linemate Max Pacioretty along the way.
The Golden Knights only have three games this week, but all of their opponents (Blackhawks, Oilers, Vancouver Canucks) struggle mightily to keep the puck out of the net.
Watson netted a hat trick on Sunday, and while he isn't known for his offensive production, he could continue to provide modest contributions while skating on the club's first line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen.
Moreover, Watson excels in leagues that include hits, blocks, and PIMs, so any time he can find the back of the net is a bonus. He has six points in as many games since returning from suspension.
The Philadelphia Flyers fired executive vice president and general manager Ron Hextall on Monday, the team announced.
Flyers president Paul Holmgren cited philosophical differences as the main reason for the decision.
"We thank Ron for his many significant contributions, but it has become clear that we no longer share the same philosophical approach concerning the direction of the team," Holmgren said in a statement. "... We feel it's in the organization's best interests to make a change, effective immediately. I have already begun a process to identify and select our next general manager."
The Flyers sit fourth-last in the Eastern Conference and have allowed the third-most goals against in the league.
Hextall, a former netminder, was unable to address the club's goaltending woes. Brian Elliott (14 games), Calvin Pickard (11 games), Anthony Stolarz, Alex Lyon, and Michal Neuvirth (one game apiece) have combined for an .887 save percentage and a 3.35 goals-against average this season.
Hextall remained loyal to head coach Dave Hakstol, despite "Fire Hakstol!" chants last season and the team's poor start to the 2018-19 campaign.
Hextall had been Flyers GM since May 7, 2014. Philadelphia made the playoffs twice during his tenure but the team was ousted in the first round each time.
This is the fifth edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. It was compiled by editors Craig Hagerman and Cory Wilkins.
1. Buffalo Sabres (16-6-2) ▲
Don't look now, but the Sabres are in first place in the NHL. It might be hard to process, but there's no denying that the club has been playing lights out as of late. Carter Hutton has been a rock, meanwhile, Jeff Skinner trails only Patrik Laine with 18 goals on the year. - Hagerman
Previously: 10th
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (17-6-1)
The Lightning continue to roll despite losing Andrei Vasilevskiy for the foreseeable future. Louis Domingue has been able to hold down the fort, and after a slightly slow start, Nikita Kucherov is hitting his stride with 14 points in his last six games. - Hagerman
Previously: 2nd
3. Nashville Predators (17-6-1) ▼
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Predators have had a tough two-week stretch, but they still managed to top the Lightning and sit tied for top spot in the NHL. All of the success comes despite P.K. Subban and Viktor Arvidsson being sidelined with injuries. Pekka Rinne is also looking like he could repeat as the Vezina Trophy winner. - Hagerman
The Capitals have been dealt a bad hand with injuries to T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov but are piling up wins regardless. The club has rattled off five straight victories and, hate him or not, Tom Wilson has been a force since returning from suspension. - Hagerman
Previously: 16th
6. Colorado Avalanche (13-6-4) ▲
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon can't be stopped - they sit first and second in league scoring, respectively. Alongside Gabriel Landeskog, the trio has combined for 99 points in 23 games. The club has rattled off four straight wins, with Rantanen and MacKinnon posting 18 points combined over that span. - Hagerman
Previously: 21st
7. Winnipeg Jets (13-7-2) ▼
Patrik Laine has scored a ridiculous 11 goals in his last five games, capped off by his five-goal onslaught against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The Jets have played slightly over a .500 clip the last couple weeks, but remain in good shape in the West. - Hagerman
Previously: 6th
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-8-2) ▲
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Next to Laine, the league's hottest goal-scorer is Cam Atkinson. The Blue Jackets forward has scored in seven straight games with nine goals total over that stretch. Meanwhile, the club trails the Metropolitan-leading Capitals by just a single point. - Hagerman
Previously: 14th
9. Calgary Flames (14-9-1) ▼
The Flames had two five-goal first periods this past week. Matthew Tkachuck has led the way of late with five goals and eight points in his last six games. David Rittich, on the other hand, looks to be making a case for the club's starter role. - Hagerman
Previously: 5th
10. Boston Bruins (13-6-4) ▼
Injuries, injuries, and more injuries have plagued the Bruins of late. Patrice Bergeron is the latest to hit the IR and will be out roughly a month. Still, the club has gone 3-0-1 in its last four games and remains in the hunt for top spot in the Atlantic Division. - Hagerman
Previously: 7th
11. Minnesota Wild (14-7-2) ▼
The Wild have gone 3-3-0 in their last six games, and Matt Dumba has been a stud posting nine points over that span. Devan Dubnyk, on the other hand, is in the midst of a minor slide, having posted a 3.63 goals-against average and a .878 save percentage in four games. Nevertheless, the club sits second in the Central. - Hagerman
Previously: 3rd
12. New York Rangers (12-10-2) ▲
Although the Rangers have lost two straight games, the team has still had a mighty November going 8-3-1. Henrik Lundqvist has been strong in goal, while sophomore defenseman Neal Pionk is quickly making a name for himself. - Hagerman
Previously: 13th
13. New York Islanders (12-8-2) ▲
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Islanders' offense has been working overdrive the last couple weeks. The team has gone 4-2-0, scoring four or more goals in each of the victories. The downside is that, in those six games, the team has an even goal differential. - Hagerman
Previously: 25th
14. Vegas Golden Knights (12-12-1) ▲
The Golden Knights are finally starting to look like the club that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season. The team has gone 5-2-0 in their last seven games, Marc-Andre Fleury has posted back-to-back shutouts, Max Pacioretty has suddenly posted six goals in five games, and Nate Schmidt's return has provided a huge boost to their back end. - Hagerman
Previously: 27th
15. Carolina Hurricanes (11-9-3)▲
The Hurricanes remain the Corsi leaders of the NHL. The club had a strong two weeks going 4-2-0, including a 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs. Between the pipes, Curtis McElhinney looks to, at least momentarily, be taking over. The netminder has gone 3-0-0 with a .960 save percentage and a 1.33 goals-against average this past week. - Hagerman
Previously: 19th
16. Anaheim Ducks (10-10-5) ▲
The Ducks struggle to score - only the Coyotes and Kings have fewer goals - but have managed to stay in the thick of things in the woeful Pacific. John Gibson is unquestionably the team's MVP, but accolades are also due to captain Ryan Getzlaf, who is heating up offensively. - Wilkins
Previously: 28th
17. San Jose Sharks (12-8-4) ▼
After a slow start to the season, big-ticket addition Erik Karlsson is showing signs of life after picking up eight points in his last six outings. There's also Aaron Dell, who pieced together back-to-back shutouts, temporarily stealing the net from starter Martin Jones before getting lit up by the Golden Knights. - Wilkins
Previously: 15th
18. Dallas Stars (12-10-2) ▼
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
It's been a lukewarm month for the Stars, as the team has been able to find the win column but hasn't strung together more than two consecutive victories through November. Backup netminder Anton Khudobin has struggled in fill-in duty with starter Ben Bishop on the shelf. - Wilkins
Previously: 12th
19. Detroit Red Wings (10-10-3) ▲
After winning just one of their first 10 games, the Red Wings have climbed to .500 led by young talents Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou. Starter Jimmy Howard has also had a strong season. The pending free agent could be an intriguing chip come the trade deadline. - Wilkins
Previously: 22nd
20. Montreal Canadiens (11-8-5) ▼
The thinking was, for the Canadiens to have a chance this season, it'd be up to Carey Price. Quite the opposite has happened, as the star netminder has struggled, while the team's historically anemic offense is scoring in spades thanks in part to new faces like Max Domi and Tomas Tatar. - Wilkins
Previously: 9th
21. New Jersey Devils (9-10-3) ▲
Keith Kinkaid was only supposed to hold down the fort in the absence of Cory Schneider. However, the starter has struggled mightily, as he's winless in six games since returning from offseason hip surgery. The Devils also need more from last year's standouts Will Butcher and Miles Wood. - Wilkins
Previously: 29th
22. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-8-5) ▼
Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty
General manager Jim Rutherford has mentioned that drastic changes will come if things don't improve, but since making those claims, the Penguins have responded. Tanner Pearson looks like a savvy addition with four points in six games since his arrival. - Wilkins
Previously: 17th
23. Chicago Blackhawks (9-10-5) ▲
The post-Joel Quenneville era is underway, as new bench boss Jeremy Colliton has guided his team to a 3-4-2 showing since coming aboard. The most impressive turnaround since the change may be from forward Brandon Saad, who has picked up five points in his last five appearances. - Wilkins
Previously: 30th
24. Edmonton Oilers (10-11-2) ▼
It's now up to Ken Hitchcock, the Oilers' eighth coach in the last nine years, to right the ship in Edmonton. While the early results have been a mixed bag, the 66-year-old brings structure, a winning record, and a veteran voice that could help heal what ails much of the Oilers. - Wilkins
Previously: 20th
25. Philadelphia Flyers (10-11-2) ▼
The Flyers' goaltending situation is almost unimaginable. Michal Neuvirth is already injured, Brian Elliott is out with a lower-body ailment, and an illness to Alex Lyon has the team reaching deep into its depth chart. However, the team got some good news on the injury front when James van Riemsdyk made his season debut earlier this month. - Wilkins
Previously: 11th
26. Florida Panthers (8-9-4) ▼
Roberto Luongo's health has to be of concern to the Panthers. The 39-year-old was back in the lineup for just eight games before another freak injury removed him from the crease. An even bigger concern is backup James Reimer's inability to produce in his absence. - Wilkins
Previously: 23rd
27. Arizona Coyotes (9-11-2) ▼
Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty
You can't win if you can't score, and that's been the story far too often this season for Arizona. The Coyotes have scored more than one goal just twice over their last six games, and they'll be banking on Nick Schmaltz adding some offense after parting ways with Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome. - Wilkins
Previously: 26th
28. Ottawa Senators (9-11-3) ▼
Matt Duchene is on fire with 17 points in his last nine outings and is on pace to smash his career high by more than 30 points. If he can keep it up, and if the Senators can get his signature on an extension, moving their first-rounder for the 27-year-old may not look so bad after all. - Wilkins
Previously: 24th
29. Vancouver Canucks (11-13-2) ▼
A strong start to the season looks like a mirage after the Canucks went winless in eight straight before coming up with a victory against the hapless Kings. The good news is rookie sensation Elias Pettersson has given Vancouver fans a reason to tune in with three more goals in his last five games. - Wilkins
Previously: 8th
30. St. Louis Blues (8-11-3) ▼
A coaching change has seemingly done little to spark the struggling Blues, as the club has won just once since dismissing Mike Yeo. Many players have failed to live up to expectations after the team's summer makeover, but Ryan O'Reilly, with five points in his past six, isn't one of them. - Wilkins
Previously: 18th
31. Los Angeles Kings (8-14-1)
Evidently, the problem wasn't behind the bench, as the Kings haven't seen any improvement since swapping out John Stevens for Willie Desjardins. The club owns just three wins in nine games since the coaching change. Of course, the injury bug picking apart the Kings' crease isn't helping matters. - Wilkins
The moves sees the Coyotes part with their top picks in the 2014 and 2015 entry drafts in Perlini and Strome, respectively.
Perlini was in his third season with the Coyotes. Through 22 games this year, he's tallied two goals and four assists.
Arizona drafted Strome third overall in 2015, behind Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, and one spot ahead of Mitch Marner, who went to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 20 appearances this season, Strome has recorded three goals and three assists.
Schmaltz comes to the Coyotes after collecting 11 points in 23 games this season, good for fifth in team scoring with the Blackhawks. He finished last campaign with 52 points in 78 games.
Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters was briefly forced to leave Sunday's game against the Arizona Coyotes after being struck in the face by a puck early in the second period.
The incident occurred when the Coyotes attempted to clear the puck from their own end.
