Ales Kotalik is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He began his career in the Czech Extraliga, playing for HC Sparta Praha and HC Verva Litvínov. In 1998, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Kotalik made his NHL debut with the Sabres in the 2002-2003 season and quickly established himself as a skilled forward with a powerful shot. He played for the Sabres for six seasons, scoring 20 or more goals in three of those seasons. He was also known for his success in shootouts, scoring 25 shootout goals during his time with the Sabres.
In 2009, Kotalik was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he played for half a season before being traded again to the New York Rangers. He finished the 2008-2009 season with a career-high 20 goals and 43 points.
Kotalik played one more season with the Rangers before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2010. He played just 26 games with the Flames before being traded back to the Sabres, where he finished his NHL career.
After leaving the NHL, Kotalik returned to the Czech Republic to play for HC Sparta Praha. He also played for the Czech national team in several international tournaments, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Throughout his career, Kotalik was known for his powerful shot and his ability to score in shootouts. He finished his NHL career with 137 goals and 173 assists in 542 games.
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