With all the teams that can use a defenseman, you would think someone would take a chance on him. They don't have to give up anything . I don't know what MB was thinking with this move. We have terrible scouts. Bad decisions like that will make or break your team.
I can't comment on other teams' actual strategy and plans, but only 21 of 31 teams have more than 2 contract spots open. If they take Alzner, they lose a spot which may not seem like a big deal, but they lose a spot for a potential signing or if they take on extra players from a trade.
Now, of those 21 teams, only 9 have the projected cap space (assume no roster changes and no cap change) to accommodate Alzner's contract beyond this season.
Of those 9, one of them are the Canadiens. the other is NYR, who are rebuilding as is Vancouver, another team. Of the remaining 6, no idea if he fits into WIN, NSH, PHI, COL, NJD or CAR's plans.
Now, trading for Alzner is a different story, but simply grabbing him off waivers isn't so easy (without knowing another team's medium-term goals).