Karl Alzner, not yet 20 years old, appears to be bound for third-line pair duties for the Capitals this fall, even before he gets a good long look at the development camp, and finishes up another off-season workout regimen.

At least that’s what everything we’re all reading and writing leads me to believe, this Burnaby, BC native making a “smooth transition from junior hockey to NHL.” The team’s official development camp guide calls him “King Karl.”

Long may the King reign in DC

photo by Getty Images

With the recent trade of Steve Eminger, and the unsettling concussion concerns of Brian Pothier, the franchise has a gaping hole on defense. Without a trade or free agent signing this off-season to bring in a veteran, minutes-eating blue liner, the team, as currently constituted, desperately needs Alzner to fill that hole.

Yes, desperately. Don’t tell me that you eagerly anticipate the rock-solid pair #3 of Erskine-Schultz all season long. (Do you?) And that’s not even to consider a lengthy injury to any member of the D corps.

Are we expecting too much from the recent draftee, #9 ranked prospect in the league (by The Hockey News) though he is?

We need only look back at the career trajectory of the recently departed Eminger to see how long it may take such a highly regarded D prospect to begin to perform up to expectations. In Steve’s case, about 5 years.

Eminger, another mid- to high 1st round draft pick (2002), debuted for Les Capitales that very fall of 2002, and was sent down after 17 games, tallying a paltry 2 assists and earning a -3 (in 10:07 TOI/G). Of course, as Alzner did not play for the Caps last season, let’s assess Eminger’s line for the following season, 2003-04: 41 GP, 4 assists, -11, 17:32 TOI/G.

That was a lot of ice time per game for a rookie, and what appears, from what’s been written, to be about the work load expected of young Karl. By way of comparison, third pair backliner Erskine logged 15:42 TOI/G and Schultz, 18:05 TOI/G.

Here’s what Kyle Woodlief of the Red Line Report penned on Steve Eminger in his draft year:

Eminger has no major flaws in his game. He is tall and lanky, but looks and plays bigger than his listed size. He is a smooth and quick skater with excellent turning and change of direction. Though he doesn’t go out looking for big open-ice hits, Eminger competes hard every shift and is effective down low in his own end.

He has the ability to move the puck quickly out of his own end and can put the long breakout pass right on the tape. Eminger makes great puck distribution decisions with few turnovers and has a knack for getting his low, accurate and hard shot through traffic and on net, which leads to a lot of deflection and rebound goals on the power play.

Sound like Alzner? Some similarities. Here’s what Woodlief said of Alzner in June of last year:

Alzner’s crisp outlets are always right on the tape and he sees the ice very well. He’s the type of guy you can safely pencil in as a first pairing d-man for the next 10-12 years.

Hockey’s Future called Karl “an imposing defender at the junior level [who] plays a strong two-way game.”

OK, calling Alzner a first-pair D man for the next decade is rare praise indeed, and perhaps “Captain Karl” deserves no comparison, as he’s in a class by himself amongst recent Caps’ D-man prospects.

I simply have reservations about expecting so much so soon of a rookie in a crucial position, especially as “the rebuild is over.”

Well, the off-season is long, and still chock full of trading possibilities. Or maybe McPhee bolsters the back line with one of those “bargain[s] sitting there in late August of September.” Or, maybe Alzner will fit right in and never look back.