With the market for free agent scoring depth rapidly shrinking New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather today snapped up one of the few remaining offensive forwards in right winger Ales Kotalik to a three-year contract.
It's a bit of a pricey signing, as the contract is worth $9 million or $3 million per season, a slight raise over the $2.5 million he earned last season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres.
Kotalik is a good second-line winger, potting twenty or more goals four times in his career, but consistency is the issue with his play as he can at times go through long offensive droughts. His best season was in 2005-06 when he potted a career-best 25 goals and 62 points.
He's unlikely to reach those numbers again but Kotalik should be reliable for another 45+ point season.
This signing also pushes the Rangers to over $45.6 million against next season's salary cap.
Seems like they're running out of room to sign the players that worked last season. Hoping Sather makes a fool out of me, but I'm not very hopeful.
chaas01:48 AM EST