Aleš Kotalík

Aleš Kotalík (born 23 December 1978) is a Czech former professional ice hockey right winger. He played a total of nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Calgary Flames. He also played for HC České Budějovice and HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Kotalík played four seasons with HC České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

He was drafted 164th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1998 NHL entry draft. He spent time playing between the Sabres and their AHL-affiliate Rochester Americans. On November 12, 2001, the Sabres called Kotalík up and he made his NHL debut in a 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers. During the game, he recorded his first point in the NHL when he assisted on a Curtis Brown goal. On March 19, 2002, he recorded his first goal in the NHL in a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators. He went on to play parts of seven seasons with the Sabres.

On 4 March 2009, the Sabres traded Kotalík to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2009 second round pick. He finished the season with them and played 19 games, scoring 7 goals and 4 assists.

On 9 July, Kotalík signed a three-year, $9 million contract to join the New York Rangers. He played 45 games with the Rangers before being scratched because of poor performance.

On 1 February 2010, the Rangers traded Kotalík along with Chris Higgins to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust. He played 52 games over two seasons with the Flames before they waived him and he was sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Abbotsford Heat. He played 25 games with the Heat.

On 25 June, the Flames traded Kotalík along with Robyn Regehr and a 2012 second round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Paul Byron and Chris Butler. On 24 September 2011, the Sabres placed him on waivers. Kotalík instead decided to return to the Czech Republic and play for HC České Budějovice again.

He played until 2013 and then retired from playing professional ice hockey.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1978 births
Category:Living people
Category:Abbotsford Heat players
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Czech ice hockey players
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the Czech Republic
Category:Rochester Americans players