Kotalik on LW?

We already know that Patrick O'Sullivan plays both wings and the C position. In the interview with Ales Kotalik he said he played all F positions as well. Hopefully this experiment turns out better than the:

• Cole at LW
• Pisani at C
• Penner at RW
• Smyth at C
• insert MacBlender moment here ...

But the interviews have inspired some newfound hope in the Oilers' chances at finding new chemistry. With guys who have the versatility to play all F positions you have to be excited to consider all the new combinations the Oilers could try:

• Kotalik on 1st line
• Kotalik on 2nd line
• O'Sullivan on 1st line
• O'Sullivan on 2nd line
• Penner on 2nd line
• Penner on 3rd line
• Pisani on 2nd line
• Pisani on 3rd line
• Stortini on 3rd line
• Stortini on 4th line

On the current depth chart, Nilsson and Jacques join MacIntyre in the press box. I think this is ill advised to dress Pouliot ahead of Jacques, but perhaps MacT is going for chemistry over individual skill.

A welcome change, I believe.

The most exciting part is that Kotalik is a skilled power forward. His consistency has been questionable in Buffalo but he has scored big points before - he has done it before and he can do it again. He may be the guy the Oilers have been looking for to play with Hemsky.

He's definitely an upgrade from the following list:

• Sergei Samsonov
• Dustin Penner
• Liam Reddox
• Ryan Potulny
• Robert Nilsson
• insert failed MacBlender 1st line experiment here ...

My hope is that MacTavish finds that inner spark that he had in his first few years in Edmonton when he could coax line chemistry out of the most obscure combinations - back when Edmonton was not a playoff team and Petr Nedved was considered a gift from the Hockey Gods themselves.

Now we know better. Rob Schremp is hockey god himself.

That being said, I can't wait to see the new power forwards in action. Catch y'all after the game.