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In a shortened season, Sykora is the perfect fit for a team with reliable defense and the need for a scoring winger.
Put him with a good two-way playmaker for a center and a net crasher on the other wing, he'll put up some good points.
There's no risk of him getting gassed.
His two biggest faults are lack of speed and his ability to get knocked off the puck pretty easily. He still has a lethal enough of a shot to be worth it, though.
To me, Nashville seems like the perfect fit for him - if he doesn't re-sign with NJ (and I would love to have him back for this year only).
What did Elias do that made him effective, that other players didn't?
Elias & Sykora have always had chemistry together - so being together again revitalized them both this season.
And, it's also part of the reason that I said he needed a good two-way playmaker.
Sykora is too slow and not strong enough to generate offense on his own.
So if you pair him with linemates that are defensively responsible and can also get him the puck, he'll fire it away on net. Elias & Zubrus were perfect in that sense.
Clarkson even got a couple of goals as they ricocheted off his body via Sykora's point shot.
Sykora is done as a quality NHL forward. His goal total last year was completely misleading. He relied overwhelmingly on Elias and Zubrus to do all the dirty work by digging for pucks, breaking into the offensive zone, creating space, and set up him on goals that quite honestly, most hockey players could finish.
His wheels are gone and that's been the case for a few years now anyway as well. He really does not add anything substantial to the depth of your lines or quality of the team as he can't play the PK, can get outplayed in 5-5 play and gets gassed on long shifts or late in games (and he pretty much collapsed towards the end of the year with the Devils and got benched in the playoffs). If you don't have an in-house alternative to bringing him in to add to your team, you are probably in some trouble.
Elias' own assessment of Sykora, for what it's worth:
Quote:
“I’m pretty sure he’s going to get offers,” Elias said. “But I’m hoping he’s going to play in the NHL because with the limited minutes he played there’s no guy in the league that can score 20 goals like he did and for the amount (of money) that he was making ($650,000).”
Sykora, 36, clearly demonstrated that he can still put the puck in the net when he gets chances, finishing fifth on the Devils with 21 goals.
“You need that touch,” Elias said. “You need a playmaker and a goal scorer. A lot of my goals were just because he created them. He’s a good passer. He’s a good player. He needs to play with the right players and in the right situation he’s effective.”
That's called a friend helping a friend. Elias is best buds with him and it's clear they do have some chemistry on the ice, but Elias carried Sykora for long stretches last year. I don't want the Devils to re-sign Sykora as well due to his age. We've already got a fair amount of aging players already on this team in guys like Elias, Zubrus, Salvador, Tallinder, Brodeur, Hedberg, and adding another one to me presents some problems for this season and going forward as well.
That's called a friend helping a friend. Elias is best buds with him and it's clear they do have some chemistry on the ice, but Elias carried Sykora for long stretches last year. I don't want the Devils to re-sign Sykora as well due to his age. We've already got a fair amount of aging players already on this team in guys like Elias, Zubrus, Salvador, Tallinder, Brodeur, Hedberg, and adding another one to me presents some problems for this season and going forward as well.
In a shortened season, and with the Devils currently being real thin on forwards, I welcome him back with open arms.
Sykora is done as a quality NHL forward. His goal total last year was completely misleading. He relied overwhelmingly on Elias and Zubrus to do all the dirty work by digging for pucks, breaking into the offensive zone, creating space, and set up him on goals that quite honestly, most hockey players could finish.
His wheels are gone and that's been the case for a few years now anyway as well. He really does not add anything substantial to the depth of your lines or quality of the team as he can't play the PK, can get outplayed in 5-5 play and gets gassed on long shifts or late in games (and he pretty much collapsed towards the end of the year with the Devils and got benched in the playoffs). If you don't have an in-house alternative to bringing him in to add to your team, you are probably in some trouble.
Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice
Lamoriello said team has no plans to bring back Sykora "at this time". Want to give young players a chance to show what they can do.
