MONTREAL - The Canadiens announced on Wednesday that they had recalled defenseman Karl Alzner from the AHL's Laval Rocket. He will join the club for practice on Thursday at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.

Alzner, 30, was reassigned to Laval on November 27. Since then, he has dressed for 10 games with the Rocket, posting two points (1G, 1A) and a plus-4 differential. The rearguard had played eight games for the Canadiens prior to being sent to Laval, registering one assist and a plus-2 differential.

A native of Burnaby, BC, Alzner has played 681 NHL games with the Canadiens and Washington Capitals, recording 20 goals, 110 assists and a plus-56 differential. He was Washington's first-round pick (5th overall) in 2007.

The Canadiens also announced that defenseman David Schlemko has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 20 due to an upper-body injury. Schlemko has suited up 18 times this season for the Habs, registering a pair of assists, both of them on the power play.