BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Forward Ales Kotalik is back in Buffalo, hoping to make the most of his second shot with a Sabres team he never envisioned would want him back.
Kotalik acknowledged he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t surprised. And yet, he finds himself enjoying the familiar surroundings of being “home” again after the Sabres acquired the 32-year-old as part of a trade with Calgary that landed Buffalo hard-hitting defenseman Robyn Regehr in June.
With no guarantee of making the Sabres roster, Kotalik is aware it’s on him to show what he can do.
Kotalik became dispensable in Buffalo after an up-and-down six-plus season stint that ended with him being traded to Edmonton in exchange for a second-round pick in March 2009.
