Kotalik

Preseason hockey has started, and the Flames are out to a 3-0 start. Yes its only the preseason, so nothing to get overly excited about seeing as 2 wins came against the Canucks in a split squad game, and the other today against the Lightning when the line up was minus Iginla, Jokinen and Tanguay. Tampa Bay did put their big guns in the line up with Stamkos, Lecalvier and St Louis all seeing over 20 minutes of ice time pushing the game to a shoot out. With Kotalik scoring the winner.

When seeing the boxscore for the Flames first preseason game, my immediate reaction was WTF is Kotalik doing in the lineup? I was sure that it had to be some kind of mistake seeing as there is no possibility of him playing for Calgary this season. He then promptly took a penalty for hooking just over a minute into the game. Living up to his reputation of being a lazy player Then another penalty for boarding. Well at least it shows he is hitting. With the game tied at 1 at the start of the third period, Kotalik is again on the ice. Only this time he is able to score the go ahead goal and the Flames go on to take the win 3-2. With the top line out against the Lightning, Kotalik gets another goal and two assists in just under 16 minutes of ice time before scoring the game winner in the shoot out. Has something clicked in Ales? He has shown in the past that he can be a 20+ goal scorer, something the Flames could really use. Is he going to try and play some Sutter hockey? He could have some great potential if he can buy into that system if he is also used accordingly and given some good minutes to produce with. Kotalik does have a howitzer from the point on the power play and at 6-1 and 220 is big body to have on the ice.

Any reasonable person would think that his performance, let alone his being in the lineup means nothing and that as soon as the season starts Kotalik will be on waivers opening day. And with the salary cap situation Kotalik being place on waivers to be sent to Abbotsford has to happen. Or does it?

With Langkow still only doing light skating as part of his recovery, is almost certain to be placed on the long term IR list. That would give the Flames some temporary cap relief until Langs is ready to get back into the lineup and his cap hit of $4.5M back on the books. And with 8 dmen on one way contracts and some prospects ready to be playing with the big club, one or more has to be moved at some stage as has been noted before. Perhaps Kotalik is trying to give the Sutters something to consider when these decisions have to be made, or at least have his play attact another team when he does hit the waiver wire when he gets sent to Abbotsford?

I have stated my opinion on the return of Tanguay and Jokinen. Kotalik is a player who has the stigma of being a cancer to a team, no one seems to want him now as he wasn't picked up by any team when placed on waivers in June. His being in the lineup, even in just the preseason, seems to make no sense unless he is going to be part of this team when the season does begin. Is Kotalik also trying to prove something with the Flames?