Early Wednesday morning Washington Capitals’ defenceman Karl Alzner underwent successful sports hernia surgery, according to CaptialsToday.com. The 27-year old Alzner suffered the injury in the Capitals second-round matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season.
This means his current streak of 458 straight regular season games will not come to an end, as some had predicted as the Capitals were jettisoned from the playoffs. Alzner has blossomed into the player Washington hoped to get when they picked him fifth overall in 2007, as a rugged physical defenceman who oozed leadership. The defenceman logged over 21 minutes a night last season helping the Capitals to a President’s Trophy for the leagues top regular season team.
Headed into the last season of a four-year $11.2MM dollar deal, Alzner will be heavily sought after as a steady presence on the back end in 2017. The Capitals would be wise to lock up their iron man sooner than later, as the Burnaby BC native will be among the best options available on the open market.