Report: Blackhawks, Canadiens among teams interested in Alzner

Karl Alzner is apparently attracting the attention of more than one marquee franchise.

The Chicago Blackhawks have communicated with the pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman's camp, according to the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc, and the Montreal Canadiens are one of several teams Alzner will visit this week, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

It's no real surprise that multiple clubs are expressing interest in the veteran blue-liner, given his durability, experience, and the lack of standout pending free-agent rearguards beyond his Washington Capitals teammate, Kevin Shattenkirk.

Still, it's interesting to see the Blackhawks reaching out, even if it's merely exploratory, given their financial situation. Chicago is nearly $1.5 million over the salary cap at the moment, according to CapFriendly.

The Canadiens could use another left-shot defenseman, particularly if they choose not to re-sign pending UFA Andrei Markov, who'll be 39 in December.

Alzner has played in every single regular-season game with Washington over the last seven campaigns, and he's spent all nine of his NHL seasons with the Capitals, who drafted him fifth overall in 2007.

He carried a $2.8-million cap hit in the final season of the four-year deal he signed in the summer of 2013.