Devils Should Give Petr Sykora His Due
When Petr Sykora accepted a try-out with the New Jersey Devils, he seemed a long shot to make the team. But if line combinations are a measuring stick for the opening night roster then expect Sykora to be there when the team opens up its season on October 8th.
Even if Devils head coach Pete DeBoer isn’t coming out and saying it, his recent line combinations seem to indicate that Sykora has played well enough to move himself up the teams depth chart. DeBoer has partnered Sykora with Patrik Elias and Zach Parise. To be saddled up next to two of the most important offensive forces on the team speaks volumes about just how well the Czech forward has played.
Sykora, who was drafted 18th overall by the Devils in 1995, proved he can still put the puck in the net right from the start of camp. He picked up a hat-trick in the Devils first intra-squad scrimmage setting the tone for the rest of training camp. Besides scoring he’s worked hard, focusing on the “little things” to prove to the coaching staff and teammates that he deserves a chance to return to the NHL.
Last season, Sykora toiled in the KHL while New Jersey suffered through one of the worst offensive droughts in league history. The team collected a paltry 174 goals, finishing last in the league with an embarrassing 2.08 goals per game average. A motivated veteran like Sykora and the return of Zach Parise could be just the thing to jump start the lackluster offense and ultimately lift the team back into the playoffs.
The former 35-goal scorer with the Devils was a member of the teams famed “A-Line” along with Elias and Jason Arnott. The line was perhaps the most prolific in team history helping the Devils secure their second Stanley Cup back in 2000. The line led the Devils to 251 goals in 1999-2000 and a league leading 295 in 2000-2001. The Devils haven’t scored more than 244 goals since.
There is no denying Sykora’s offensive talent and since a player’s worth in measured by his production I figure I’d throw out a few numbers.
In his career, Sykora has eclipsed the 20 goal mark 10 times, including 6 seasons of 25 or more. Over the course of his 14 seasons in the NHL he has averaged just under 50 points a season. He enjoyed his best season offensively while with the Devils in 2000-01 collecting 81 ( 35g 46a) points. By reuniting Sykora and Elias DeBoer is hoping to bring back some of that offensive magic.
I should also mention how durable Sykora has been over the last 10 plus years. Except for his last season with the Minnesota Wild, he’s never played Less than 73 games in a season. The Devils finished last year ranked third in total man-games lost to injury with 373. Only the Colorado Avalanche (385) and Islanders (512) had more.
Fans have grown tired of GM Lou Lamoriello’s unsuccessful recycling of ex-Devils. Past flops like Brian Rolston have carried the burden of their inflated contract and lofty expectations but fail to deliver little more than indigestion. Unlike Rolston, Sykora came to camp with no contract and no expectations. It’s a low risk high, reward situation for the Devils.
I don’t see how the 34-year-old doesn’t make the team. What NHL team doesn’t need a dependable veteran forward that is good for 40-50 points a year?
Coach DeBoer and the Devils are expected to make more players cuts this week and I have a feeling Sykora won’t be one of them.
What do you think? Are the Devils better off with Sykkie? Inquiring minds want to know…
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Its a no brainer for me.Sykora will help the team and is better than alot of the guys that could make the team.I think he is a good fit with either the vets like Elias or Parise or Kovy and I think he would be a good fit with the younger guys like Tedenby and Josefson