Alzner isn't purely defensive. He's not immobile or unable to join the rush or make a pass. He's effective in all those areas. He's extremely smart with the puck. I'd compare him to a cheaper Vlasic.
I agree with the post above, Dillon was terrible last year and having him slate out as our 2nd LD scares me.
Alzner is a defensive defensemen. He's highest point total is 21 in a season. We need defensemen who can put up points first and foremost, if they can also play excellent defensively, bonus. As I showed a few months ago, we are at least 50p off pace from the league leaders in offense from our blueline. That's a HUGE gap. The Sharks must close that gap if they plan to win a cup at some point.
Which is an additional problem since Burns is our ONLY offensive dman now (that Irwin is likely gone) and he's only signed for two more seasons. Also with his injury history, its questionable how long he will remain healthy. The Sharks may be better off to get value for him now (while they are still rebuilding) before he potentially walks in free agency or worse signs a new contract then gets injured again, this time more permanently. I like Burns, a LOT, I'm the guy that made a huge campaign in the off-season to get him the year we acquired him (hey, maybe I should be MORE obnoxious about Jones too
).
Which puts the Sharks in the position of needing at least two point producing D-men long term, one of which produces at a top-pairing rate. Alzner just wastes assets that could be used to help solve those two issues.
Dillon was not terrible last year
Playing him with awful defensive partners (Burns, Mueller, Scott (the best of the three defensively (I know, small sample size))) was terrible
Playing him on the wrong side was terrible
Playing him as as our #1D (albeit out of necessity) was terrible
He wasn't terrible, he is a fine second pair guy; his usage was terrible
For that, I blame DW; he didn't give Dillon or Todd anything to work with on the blue line last year
To be fair, statistically, Dillon was not just terrible last year, he was brutal. Everything you said is accurate, but given those tough assignments he fell on his face HARD. I expect him to be much better next season, but best case that makes him an average defensive 2nd pairing d-man.