Thursday, June 18, 2009

Back In Blue?

Petr Sykora back on the Rangers? Why not?

Sykora thinks that it is time to part with the Pens and, while he is being wooed by the KHL, perhaps Broadway wouldn't be so bad. Sykora made a nice guest appearance here the second half of the first year out of the lockout and had 31 points in 40 games. Last season he scored 46 in 76 but fell out of favour with Dan Bylsma and played just seven playoff games.

He is getting older and a little slower - he is turning 33 this fall - but he is still a solid sniper, especially on the power play where he scored 19 of those 46 points. Sykora could prove to be a cost effective replacement to Markus Naslund. He scored the same amount of points as the Swede but made just $2.5 mill and certainly cannot expect a raise. Perhaps he could provide a veteran presence to help guide, shape and motivate Zherdev, since it seems like we will be stuck with the enigmatic Russian phenom.

The only question I have is would he be able to play in Tortorella's up-tempo attack system or will he be relegated to the press box like he was in the Pens Cup run?

What do you think?

11 comments:

The Dark Ranger said...

It would be a good move for NYR and for Sykora. I am a fan.

Anonymous said...

From the rare times that I venture to the dark side and read Pens-centric stuff, I get the impression that he's lost a step or three. He's not terrible, but I don't think it improves us much.

I think if we spend in FA this year, we should go with sure bets and not reclamation projects like last year.

What's your outlook for Dubi and Cally next year? Are you going to be doing individual prognostications for players at some point??

Schram said...

Good move if we can sign him for a good, easy price and not have him for 7 years.

As for the post above me I have to say we need to keep Dubi and Cally who will probably both have a breakthrough season next year.

Author said...

I was thinking about Sykora myself recently & thought that he might be a cheap pickup (compared to the $4M+ UFAs). Think he may need a salary decrease & better not be expecting him to be some sort of savior, like the Rangers expected Naslund to be last season

Canyon of Blueshirts said...

I think he'd be a good acquisition for the price. I'd like to see it.

kels said...

I wish they never let him leave the first time. He was yet another good Czech player during that Czech-filled era.

As for now, the price does matter, but I'd still like to see it.

The Kid said...

Too old... Unless we are gonna get an elite foward this free agency... we should pass on sykora knuble and other B players. Its time for our prospects to get a shot.. It not like we are winning the cup next year.. we should build from our youth upwards Reddens drury's gomez's roszival's contracts have handicapped us anyway...

matt sully said...

scotty, love the mentor to Zherdev point. I dont think Sykora has it in him to play Tort's system effectively though. Also, though he wouldn't deserve a raise, should we place bets on Sather giving him one anyway? you know....since he likes to give away money and cap space and all...

jamestobrien said...

There was a reason Sykora rode the bench: when he's not scoring, he's pretty worthless. I'm not sure how injured he really was, but when Miro Satan's a reasonable alternative ... it might be time to play in a Euro League.

s2404 said...

wow how about pru gettin signed by phoneix for damn cheap. i always liked him, hope he does well

Brian said...

I am not a fan. How would getting Sykora make us a better team? If we essentially signed Sykora to replace Naslund, that would mean that we would have downgraded twice over one full season, going from Jagr to Naslund to Sykora.

It's time to get a top offensive winger that will hopefully bring Gomez's game up to where we all thought it would be, even if it means trading some of our stockpiled youth.