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Calgary Flames

Ales Kotalik Placed on Re-Entry Waivers

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After yesterday’s news that David Moss left Flames practice with an ankle injury, the Flames have placed winger Ales Kotalik on re-entry waivers, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie via Twitter:

TOR’s Matt Lashoff clears re-entry waivers; CGY puts Ales Kotalik on re-entry waivers.

This creates two problems for the Flames; the first one being that Moss’ injury is likely long-term, and the second being salary cap implications. If he clears (which he almost certainly will) and is called up by the Flames, his salary is once again added to the books. The Flames currently have an LTIR cushion of $384,451 with Daymond Langkow still on the shelf, and adding Kotalik back into the mix limits their flexibility for the remainder of the season in the case of another injury.

Kotalik is +8 and has four goals and 19 points in 18 games with the Abbotsford Heat, but with his lack of production with the big club this season and at his age and inflated salary, the question of whether or not he is really a better option than someone like Lance Bouma remains.

Update: Fredrik Modin, Olli Jokinen, and Curtis Glencross are all skating this morning at Flames practice via Pat Steinberg, which makes this move all the more puzzling. It has been assumed that Alex Tanguay will slide over to centre in tonight’s game to take over for Moss, but today’s practice is optional so there will be no official word on lines or defence pairings until closer to game time.

by Hayley Mutch