Calgary acquired RW Ales Kotalik, and LW Chris Higgins from New York in exchange for C Olli Jokinen, and RW Brandon Prust.

Lets look at each of those involved:

Olli Jokinen- Easily the biggest name and most accomplished player of the group. He's 31 years old and will play on his 6th NHL team. He's known as a lockerroom problem , moody and kind of a clubhouse lawyer. His per 82 game stat line entering this season was 24-29-53 (goals-assists-points) . In addition to him taking over the #1 center role for the Blueshirts he immediately becomes the club's third leading scorer trailing just Marian Gaborik and Vaclav Prospal. Tools wise he's got just about everything you'd want in a top line forward. He's big (6'3, 215), fast, strong, skilled, and proven very durable throughout his career. The combination of Unrestricted Free Agency looming this summer as well as playing on a line with Gaborik and Prospal has me believing he should finish the season strong perhaps with 17-20 points in his 26 games in red,white, and blue.

Brandon Prust - He's strictly a north south player and the 25 year old will probably push Aaron Voros further from the lineup, and keep Donald Brashear in the pressbox as well. He's not fantasy relevant really but the one stat that does stand out is that he's second in the entire league having been in 18 fights already this season.

Ales Kotalik - It's safe to say that this player landed in Rangers coach John Tortorella's doghouse and never found his way out. He turned 31 years of age right before Christmas and was a very poor fit from the season's start. It's a bit puzzling why Calgary would want him as he's done nothing but sit in the pressbox as a healthy scratch of late, and when he did play he didn't contribute anything (just 2 goals and 2 assists since Dec. 1). On top of that he has two years remaining on his contract at 3 million dollars per season. His best tool is an excellent snapshot and he did have some past success in the shootout while with the Sabres. That also did not translate in New York. With the Flames having 26 games left in the 2009/10 season you shouldn't expect anything more than perhaps 10 points. His indifference to physical play, and desire to remain on the perimeter has me thinking he might not exactly be Calgary coach Brent Sutter's kind of player either.

Chris Higgins- Unlike Kotalik there was no lack of effort in Higgins game. He came to the Rangers this offseason when he was part of the deal that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal. He has managed just 14 points (6 goals and 8 assists) in 55 games thus far in 2009/10. For whatever reason he was just a bad fit with the team and showed

none of the finishing ability that has allowed him to post three 20 goal seasons already (he's currently just 26 years old). The Flames no doubt feel that they can help him regain some of his scoring touch, and the rest of the year will act as an audition for him as he will become a Restricted Free Agent this summer.

playing for his next big payday. Whatever personality problems were his undoing with the Flames, I would expect they won't crop up over the last 25 games or so in New York.

 

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Tags: Ales Kotalik  Chris Higgins  Olli Jokinen  Brandon Prust  Marian Gaborik  Vaclav Prospal  Brandon Prust  Aaron Voros  Donald Brashear  Ales Kotalik  John Tortorella  Brent Sutter  Chris Higgins  Scott Gomez.