Chris Drury's former Buffalo Sabres teammate, right wing Ales Kotalik, agrees to a deal with the Rangers, details hopefully to come.
Kotalik, 30, ended last season with the Oilers and he combined for 20 goals and 23 assists between Edmonton and Buffalo, the fourth season he has reached 20 goals. At 6-1, 227 pounds, the Czech has a bit of size, too.
We'll see what the contract terms are but, if they're decent, this is a good pickup.
He earned $2.5 million last season.
UPDATE: TSN is reporting a three-year, $3 million contract. I have to believe that's $3 million per. Am trying to confirm.
If anything this means Zherdev is 99% sure of being gone
Posted by: PuckCentral.net | July 09, 2009 at 03:34 PM
According to TSN
"The New York Rangers signed Ales Kotalik to a three-year, $3 million contract on Thursday."
Assuming that means $3M per season, not $3M total
Posted by: PuckCentral.net | July 09, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Yep, I agree. Unfortunately, because I liked Zherdev despite his at times laxidasical play. Kotalik is a solid forward, though. He's a true sniper. I've actually really liked what Sather has done in the offseason minus Brashear. By the way, Andrew. ESPN is reporting a 3 yr. $9M contract.
Posted by: Chris | July 09, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Or is this a Korpikoski replacement, assuming the KHL rumors are more true than we've been led to believe?
I still don't really know what to make of the lines for next year. Guess Kotalik was signed to play with Dru?
Assuming Zherdev walks from arbitration, what do you all think of these lines?
Gaborik - Dubinsky - Higgins
Callahan - Drury - Kotalik
Avery - Anisimov - Korpikoski (or Grachev?)
Arnason - Boyle - Brashear
Posted by: Anthony | July 09, 2009 at 03:50 PM
I figured this move was coming. I wish it would be for the 3rd line. I do believe it will be for the second line now and I agree Z is gone.
Posted by: gamemisconduct17 | July 09, 2009 at 03:51 PM
IMO Arnason is going to Hartford
Callahan is a RW & Higgins & Korpikoski are LWs
Posted by: PuckCentral.net | July 09, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Anyone think this is a tad bit much for a 30 y/o who has never scored more than 25 goals in a season?
Posted by: gamemisconduct17 | July 09, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I think Tort will load up the first line now with the Kotalik signing, especially since Drury and Kotalik have played together. Arnason won't play in the NHL again except during an injury.
Gaborik - Drury - Kotalik
Higgins - Dubinsky - Callahan
Avery - Anisimov - Grachev
Korp - Boyle - Brashear/Byers
Posted by: Chris | July 09, 2009 at 03:58 PM
The way I look at it Naslund had 24 goals and 22 assists next year for 4 million dollars, while Kotalik had 20 goals and 23 assists for 3 million, its not a bad trade off, and Boyle also took a pay decrease to sign with the Rangers as well. I'm sure Glenn has other things cooking, but I would like Dubi and Cally to get done here.
Posted by: Mark | July 09, 2009 at 04:01 PM
I don't know about the line combinations above with Avery on the third line and all. We'll see-I think the best one I saw was Gaborik-Drury-Kotalik-that seems pretty feasible to me. I am in the middle on this deal-I mean, I don't care for Z or Korpo coming back but 3 mill is alot fot this guy I think. I can't believe the deals some of these players are getting-it's starting to look like freakin NBA! Outrageous contracts for guys that aren't that great due to potential i guess. Hope he earns it and gets Drury going again too
Posted by: Keith | July 09, 2009 at 08:14 PM