Kotalik signs three-year deal with Rangers

July 9, 2009   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

In a move that appears to pave the way for the Rangers and Nikolai Zherdev to part ways, the Rangers inked ex-Sabre (and Oiler) Ales Kotalik to a three year deal at $1 million per. 

Last year, Kotalik had a combined 20 goals, 23 assists and a -5 for the Sabres and Oilers and three other times in his career Kotalik has scored 20 or more in a season, though his overall point totals leave something to be desired.  Only in a career year following the lockout did Kotalik ever top the 43-point mark when he had 25 goals and 37 assists in ’05-06 for Buffalo.

Still, adding the 30-year old Kotalik seems to be a logical cost-cutting move, as speculation abounds that the Rangers could walk away from an unfavorable arbitration decision on Zherdev.

UPDATE: Well apparently there are conflicting reports on Kotalik’s contract, one link from TSN says it’s a 3 year, $3 million deal while another on the same site has it as a 3 year, $9 million deal.  That’s a pretty big difference, the former’d be a steal while the latter’s just another example of Glen Sather getting rid of last year’s toy for a fresh, shiny new one since there really isn’t much difference between what that contract for Kotalik would be and paying Zherdev.