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4 months ago: New York Rangers right wing Ales Kotalik (12), from Czech Republic, celebrates his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Edmonton, Alberta. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jimmy Jeong)

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It wasn't always like this for Ales Kotalik. When he completed his rookie season with the Buffalo Sabres, Henrik Zetterberg was the only freshman to score more goals than him (one more to be exact) and he played 11 more games than Kotalik. As fate would have it, these two late-round draft picks have taken separate roads since 2003 and haven't been comparable to each other as they were during their start-up season.

Kotalik's best year with Buffalo came in 2006 when he posted career numbers across the board notching 25 goals, 37 assists and 62 points. While he didn't crack 50 points again, never mind coming close to his career-high, Kotalik was liked for his vigorous one-timer and powerplay expertise. Side note: the nearest he came to matching his 62-point output from a few years ago is 43 points.

If I had to condense the 31-year-old in short and simple terms, it would be with the following:

Ales Kotalik has the ideal skill set and size to be a natural 40-goal scorer in the NHL but doesn't have the heart to joust for loose pucks near the boards. He will allow a teammate to do the heavy work and set him up for a shot as he sits at the blue line waiting. If the puck gets behind him and an opposing players gets a shorthanded break-away, don't expect a tiring back-check.

As a lazy forward, Kotalik is an enigma to his coach and supporters because he doesn't seem to get the work-ethic part of hockey. I've read Theoren Fleury's autobiography, Playing With Fire, and a lot of quotes stand out. One that I particularly remember well is how he described legendary draft bust Alexandre Daigle, whom he saw some time with in the New York Rangers organization.

Alexandre Daigle, what a beauty, that guy. He was a strange cat. Probably one of the fastest guys I ever played with. He had all the tools, but no box to go with it. Dumb as a post—he didn't get it. He could have been a superstar, but he was too dumb to realize you have to work hard and not blame everybody around you for your failings.

Not all of this can be implied in Kotalik's case but it's in the same arena. In his last year with Buffalo, he started out terrifically with seven points in five matches before alternating cold and hot streaks for the rest of the season. On the trade deadline, Kotalik was sent to Edmonton for a second round pick. With 11 points in just over a month with the Oilers, they elected not to re-sign him.

New York, whose followers had just taken in an unpleasant campaign from another headcase, Nikolai Zherdev, signed Kotalik to a three-year contract in the summer. Again, he jumped out quickly with 17 points in 19 games but stumbled back on his coach's bad side. John Torterella made him a healthy scratch six consecutive times before allowing him to dress against Carolina a few days ago. 

Unimpressed with his return, Torterella placed him back on the outside looking in for two more games. Reports now suggest Calgary is looking to deal Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust to New York in exchange for Kotalik and Christopher Higgins however, it's currently on hold for the time being.

If the trade goes through anytime soon, it'll be the third squad in less than a year attempting to bring out the best in the Czech native. Kotalik has to begin playing with intensity and grit, whether he wants to or not because being a powerplay quarterback isn't enough to stay on a roster these days. Shot-blockers and defensemen are too well prepared for their attackers and a single weapon for Kotalik isn't going to cut it.

Another area he could practice on is his passing but mostly it's the energy and effort that's seriously evading him. Joining the Flames will become an added chapter in the once promising career of Ales Kotalik which is faltering by the day. The conclusion of this tale could transpire overseas when he runs out of NHL clubs willing to take a risk on him.