Missing persons list

[buffjoe]

It's time to send out the search party for Kotalik again. Should've traded him after he put his annual 15 game stretch in. His assist tonight gave him a whopping 32 points this year. Even Bucky's getting his shots in.

Kotalik’s heavy shot makes him attractive, but the only time he made a difference here was when he rode alongside Connolly in 2005-06. He’s never scored more than 25 goals in a season. He’s had more than 38 points only once. He’s also never finished an NHL season with a positive plus-minus rating. He’s also signed through next season.

[dasaybz]

I don't know if you noticed, but we did win 5-1 tonight, and this team is super hot.

Nice try though.

[dasaybz]

Oh, and by the way, I have NO problem with Kalinin this year.

[jlpubarch]

He's still got the flu...and he hasn't been a penalty OR a defensive liability this year...

Kotalik rules.

[Scary Good]

Kotalik or Dumont? Thought so.

[slowpokemcgee]

Can't people just be happy? Apparently not.

[atomheart]

All I know is Al was one of the few guys who actually used his body two years ago when we got to the playoffs. I expect the same this year, and I don't think he is worthless or 'missing' at all. Oh and btw, he is the only person who can actually score in the shootout, lol

[Thumper]

In what world did Kotalik play a bad game tonight? Are you kidding? He's been one of our most consistant forwards all year, and that's a short list. Find something else to piss on.

[buffjoe]

In what world did Kotalik play a bad game tonight? Are you kidding? He's been one of our most consistant forwards all year, and that's a short list. Find something else to piss on.

I'm surprised at you Thumper. Usually you come up with something better than that. I don't feel bad about picking on Kotalik because Pierre McGuire, on last night's TSN telecast, in discussing Kotalik, said almost word for word, the exact thing I said above. I'll take Pierre McGuire's validation over a board poster anyday!

[anEinherjer]

We should have put out an APB on Gaustad, he hadn't scored in 10.

Chicago should ****in' trade Kane, he was silent for like 8 in a row.

Hell, Kovalchuk's been horrific lately! -9, 2 assists in the last 9 games? OVERRATED!!

[Thumper]

I'm surprised at you Thumper. Usually you come up with something better than that. I don't feel bad about picking on Kotalik because Pierre McGuire, on last night's TSN telecast, in discussing Kotalik, said almost word for word, the exact thing I said above. I'll take Pierre McGuire's validation over a board poster anyday!

I promise you, I've watched Al Kotalik play more hockey in this season alone than Pierre McGuire has in Kotalik's entire career. But go ahead and continue to allow a hockey analyzer to make up your mind for you.

Also, what does matter if you "feel bad" about picking on a player or not? What matters is if your take is accurate. The reality is, while Kotalik may not bring it every single night (not many players can), he has in fact been one of the Sabres more consistant forwards through 50+ games in this '07-'08 season.

Tell me, what would you have traded him for? What should we have gotten for him? Perhaps another forward with decent size that can and will use his body, especially in the playoffs, and has one of the hardest shots in the league?

[ninecarpileup]

I promise you, I've watched Al Kotalik play more hockey in this season alone than Pierre McGuire has in Kotalik's entire career. But go ahead and continue to allow a hockey analyzer to make up your mind for you.

Also, what does matter if you "feel bad" about picking on a player or not? What matters is if your take is accurate. The reality is, while Kotalik may not bring it every single night (not many players can), he has in fact been one of the Sabres more consistant forwards through 50+ games in this '07-'08 season.

Tell me, what would you have traded him for? What should we have gotten for him? Perhaps another forward with decent size that can and will use his body, especially in the playoffs, and has one of the hardest shots in the league?


I like Al. However, he does not show up consistantly for a guy his size. The only other option I could remember thinking of was keeping Zubrus (when they had the chance) and packaging Al with Stafford or Max + picks to get Hossa or Boumeester.

[Thumper]

I like Al. However, he does not show up consistantly for a guy his size. The only other option I could remember thinking of was keeping Zubrus (when they had the chance) and packaging Al with Stafford or Max + picks to get Hossa or Boumeester.

Regier would never make a move for a guy like Hossa. And Zubrus is making almost exactly what Hecht is making, but for a year longer. I'd take Hecht over Zubrus every day of the week...So from my perspective, Zubrus is over paid, and he makes a million more than Kotalik currently does. Is Kotalik worth 3.5 million a season for the next 5 years (Zubrus' deal)? No. So I don't think that plan would have worked. Also, to get Hossa, Stafford/Kotalik/picks isn't enough. Stafford/Paille/picks might do it, and who in their right mind would want to do that?

[ninecarpileup]

Regier would never make a move for a guy like Hossa. And Zubrus is making almost exactly what Hecht is making, but for a year longer. I'd take Hecht over Zubrus every day of the week...So from my perspective, Zubrus is over paid, and he makes a million more than Kotalik currently does. Is Kotalik worth 3.5 million a season for the next 5 years (Zubrus' deal)? No. So I don't think that plan would have worked. Also, to get Hossa, Stafford/Kotalik/picks isn't enough. Stafford/Paille/picks might do it, and who in their right mind would want to do that?


I agree now. What I was refering to was during last summer. I still like Zubrus, and think he would have done well in Buffalo. I am not sold on Hossa, Boumeester, under the tutledge of Lindy would be one bad ass d man.

[mikgaes]

If that is you in your signature, then you look like a drunk serial-killer. http://floridasportsman.com/art/biglaugh.gif

[ninecarpileup]

If that is you in your signature, then you look like a drunk serial-killer. http://floridasportsman.com/art/biglaugh.gif


No, found it on the net. Could not believe somebody would actually put it out there.

[JFKDivisionChamps02]

Who really cares, we are winning right? As long as we are winning games, and getting into the playoffs, who cares guy!

[ksl66]

Keep al for the remainder of the season and then he will be moved in a pyatt-type salary dump in the off-season. Al is way too hot and cold for me and he is making a good dollar.

[MauvaisSang]

Kotalik has grown on me....Still would've rather have kept Dumont though.

[buffjoe]

2001-02 4pts -1
2002-03 35pts -2
2003-04 26pts -1
2005-06 62pts -3
2006-07 38pts -5
2007-08 Projected 47pts -1

What exactly am I missing here with this guy? He's not much better than he was in 2002Where's the improvement? And..... I'm guessing the 62 points came in a contract year! He could be a consistent 30 goal scorer but he's about 15lbs over where he should be. He has no feet speed or lateral movement so he's easy to beat in the corners. It's a broken record with him. He goes in lays a good hit but then loses the one-on-one battle. That would be acceptable if he was a goal scoring sniper but he's not. The guy with the big shot has only reached 25 goals once in his career. Shouldn't a sniper be getting at least 25-30 a year? especially when he's given so much PP time? At this point in the season he's barely ahead of Gaustad, Paille, and Stafford in scoring. At 29 years old shouldn't he be leaps and bounds ahead of those 3 guys? Last but not least, at 10.6%, his shooting percentage is equal to Adam Mair's.

[Thumper]

2001-02 4pts -1
2002-03 35pts -2
2003-04 26pts -1
2005-06 62pts -3
2006-07 38pts -5
2007-08 Projected 47pts -1

What exactly am I missing here with this guy? He's not much better than he was in 2002Where's the improvement? And..... I'm guessing the 62 points came in a contract year! He could be a consistent 30 goal scorer but he's about 15lbs over where he should be. He has no feet speed or lateral movement so he's easy to beat in the corners. It's a broken record with him. He goes in lays a good hit but then loses the one-on-one battle. That would be acceptable if he was a goal scoring sniper but he's not. The guy with the big shot has only reached 25 goals once in his career. Shouldn't a sniper be getting at least 25-30 a year? especially when he's given so much PP time? At this point in the season he's barely ahead of Gaustad, Paille, and Stafford in scoring. At 29 years old shouldn't he be leaps and bounds ahead of those 3 guys? Last but not least, at 10.6%, his shooting percentage is equal to Adam Mair's.

Terrible. Again. Kotalik was never projected to be a 30 goal scorer let alone a 25 a year guy. Then you bust out his career +/- ? Seriously? He's practically even every year. How far can you reach with this player? I don't understand any of it. Kotalik has twice as many goals as Gaustad, yet you say that he's "barely" ahead of him??? Hello? I almost feel like you're joking. Shooting percentage? Kotalik has a BETTER shooting percentage than Mike Modano, Jamie Langenbrunner, Bobby Holik, JochenFreakingHecht, and even Pavel Dastyuk. Kotalik only scored over 25 goals in juniors once. He never even scored 20 in a season for Rochester. Tell me, how do those kinds of numbers project to a 30 goalscorer in the NHL? How far can you possibly reach? He's projected to have his 2nd best season in a Sabres uniform, and you try and use that as if it's a bad thing. What's your deal?