Veteran winger Petr Sykora is attempting a comeback for 2011-2012. The New Jersey Devils announced the signing of the 34 year old Czech to a one year deal worth $650,000. Sykora, the ex-Devil, was invited to training camp on September, 12th.
“This is something special for me today, to be on a line with those two guys,” he said. “It really felt good, I’m not going to lie to you. It felt good. I’m going to do whatever’s in my power to stay here as long as I can.”
On Monday in practice the veteran played with New Jersey’s top line consisting of NHL elite Zach Parise and veteran Patrik Elias. “I was actually nervous, a little bit, in the beginning of practice,” Sykora said on Monday. “But I had so much fun today, I can’t wait for practice tomorrow. If I’m on this line tomorrow, I’m going to enjoy practice tomorrow. I had so much fun today that I can’t really say. It was great.”
“With Patty and Zach, two skilled players, you can just see those two guys, they find the holes, they find those open areas,” Sykora said. “Those quick little plays from the wall and those little one-touch plays are there and that makes the game so much easier. It was a hard practice with a lot of battles, but just to be out there with those two guys, I had a lot of fun today.”
Sykora found chemistry with the 35 year old veteran Elias, whom he played on the New Jersey Devils with from the 1995-1996 season through the 2000-2001 season. The duo have accounted for many of the Devils points over the years, with their biggest shared accomplishment coming in the form of a Stanley Cup Championship in 1998-1999. Through preseason Sykora has impressed in his four games, having tallied two goals and one assist.
"I have a lot of support here in New Jersey. This is home for me," Sykora said. "Every year, I'd come back to New Jersey. I have so many friends here."
After seven years with the New Jersey Devils organization, Sykora has seen play in five different NHL organizations, and including the lockout year; two different Kontinental Hockey League seasons. Sykora won his second Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008-2009, but since then has struggled mightily to find consistency in his game and in a place to call home.
The 18th overall draft pick of the New Jersey Devils in 1995 has returned to his beloved team, and the fans, management group, and teammates he played alongside for so many years have welcomed him with open arms.
“Petr’s come in and created some offense and really hasn’t had the opportunity to play with some of the elite guys yet,” head coach Peter DeBoer said. “I thought it was the right thing to do.”
“Chemistry is a big thing, and we always had that,” veteran centerman and team captain Patrick Elias said.
“It’s a long time ago, but sure, it’s something that I think plays into it,” said the coach. “They have a comfort level and a communication level, obviously, that’s real good.”
Sykora spent last season split between Dynamo Minsk of the KHL and Plzen of the Czech League. Between the two clubs Sykora netted 13 goals and 16 assists. In the National Hockey League, Sykora has played in 935 games and tallied 302 goals and 375 assists for 677 total points. In the post season, Sykora has appeared 115 times netting 32 goals and adding 37 assists for 69 points.
Sykora is 11th in New Jersey Devils franchise history in goals (145), 12th in assists (205), and 11th in points (350), and 23rd in games played with 445.
Sykora can score goals when he’s going right, something that the Devils need heavily after finishing dead last in goals scored in 2010-2011. The Devils made space for him in terms of the salary cap by trading away center David Steckel for a fourth round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs late last night.
"It's no secret that we were the lowest-scoring team in the league last year," DeBoer said. "Petr can score. He's managed to create offence and create it consistently through training camp. ... He has definitely surprised us, but he did what he had to do to win the job."
- Kendall Grubbs
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