Colin226 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://nhl.si.com/2014/03/17/petr-sykora-retires-devils-penguins/ Former NHLer Petr Sykora retired on Monday, according to a Czech website.The two-time Stanley Cup winner hasn’t played in the NHL since 2011-12 or in a game this season in Europe. He last skated in the Swiss League during in 2012-13.According to the report, Sykora was waiting for an NHL offer, but didn’t pick one up, so he called it quits during the weekend.Sykora finished his NHL career where it started — in New Jersey with the Devils, for whom he played almost seven seasons before bounced around the league with the Ducks, Rangers, Oilers, Wild and Penguins, ending up with 323 goals, 398 assists and eight 50-plus point seasons.Sykora’s best campaign was 2000-01 when he recorded 81 points, including 35 goals, in 73 games. Along with his NHL career, he spent some time in the KHL and Czech Leagues, and played for the Czech Republic Olympic team in 2002. A great Devil and one hell of a piece in our 2011 - 2012 season. Thought we should have a thread to commemorate his career. Kudos to HFBoards for some of these great memories: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 loved sykora from the start when he was on the "hells angels" line with stumpy and guerin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 This was a returning Devil that really really worked. Not too many have, The funny thing is that Lou probably should have given him a 1-year deal last off-season, but thought someone within the organization or Mr. Plan B could fill the void. That never happened. Not even when he tried to bring back another ex-Devil in Ponikarovsky. Great career. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Geez, I kind of want to forget the days when blond hilights was an acceptable mens' fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb00rs Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I will never forget the chemistry of the A-line. Elias and Sykora especially had some incredible connections on the ice. It was nice that he was able to come back for a year to say goodbye and to call NJ his "home." Well done Petr. The 2000 Stanley Cup win would not have been possible without you, especially game 6 where your spirit had the guys playing with a fire in their hearts. You will be remembered in Devils lore forever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Rockies 1976 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 In '95-'96, for a while he WAS the Devils' offense, and as a rookie to boot, before hitting the wall. A-Line was so much fun, in both 2000 and 2001. There are days I'd almost like to watch the 00-01 season from beginning to end, game by game, because damn that team was so much fun to watch (though Ranger fans still insisted they were boring). Understood why the line was broken up with the Arnott deal and later the Sykora trade. They were invisible on the road in 2001-02, and disappeared after an awesome start (think Arnott had 13 points after the first 7 GP or something like that). Both deals paid off in a huge way in 02-03, and I don't second-guess those deals one bit. There's a small part of me that wonders what would've happened if they had gotten that season to find their magic again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Syk was a good Devil. Hope he enjoys retirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouse Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I actually liked him better than Elias initially. Obviously, Elias is now one of my all time favorites, in a way Sykkie isn't, but that's not a negative on Sykkie. A great Devil, who was a star of 1 Cup team and another finalist, and a key cog on another team that ran to the finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Pride 26 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Will always remember being sucked into hockey watching the A Line and being mesmerized as an eight year old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ELIAS6 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 great part of the devils history.. glad to say he was a part of this team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfitz804 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 Completely undervalued player in my book. He was a great player for a number of years and I don't think he really gets noticed as same too often. Congrats, man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDew Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 I remember having him autograph a jersey for me during a sth meet. He was just beginning, didn't speak much English and was such a shy kid. Thnx for the memories. Enjoy your retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I lump him with Guerin and Gomez as players who could have developed into greatness but hd their judgement clouded by an oversized sense of entitlement. Elias made him practice plays and learn the game. As a result became successful as a "scorer" and thought he was too big for the other parts of the game. Waste of potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derlique Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I lump him with Guerin and Gomez as players who could have developed into greatness but hd their judgement clouded by an oversized sense of entitlement. Elias made him practice plays and learn the game. As a result became successful as a "scorer" and thought he was too big for the other parts of the game. Waste of potential. What is this madness? Sykora was over .7ppg in his career playing mostly in the DPE. Not everyone can be Patrik Elias in terms of ability and hockey sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 What is this madness? Sykora was over .7ppg in his career playing mostly in the DPE. Not everyone can be Patrik Elias in terms of ability and hockey sense. A lot of good his ppg stats got him in getting him a job in the NHL his last several seasons, where he had to beg to play in the NHL. My point was if he had a better attitude, he could have become a much more versatile and valuable player and extended his career and a better championship resume. Instead he went for short term gain and long term disappointment. Waste of potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aznjsn Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Great part of one of the greatest lines the Devils and even the NHL has ever seen. Happy Retirement Sykora! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 A lot of good his ppg stats got him in getting him a job in the NHL his last several seasons, where he had to beg to play in the NHL. My point was if he had a better attitude, he could have become a much more versatile and valuable player and extended his career and a better championship resume. Instead he went for short term gain and long term disappointment. Waste of potential. Sykora scored 323 goals - he was a scorer. He was never good along the boards, he wasn't a tremendously crafty player otherwise, but he could shoot the puck. Even in his last 4 full seasons he averaged over 20 goals a season, and there's not many players for whom that's true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevsMan84 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 A lot of good his ppg stats got him in getting him a job in the NHL his last several seasons, where he had to beg to play in the NHL. My point was if he had a better attitude, he could have become a much more versatile and valuable player and extended his career and a better championship resume. Instead he went for short term gain and long term disappointment. Waste of potential. I've also heard rumors over the years from more than 1 person who said that back when the A-line was around, Arnott and Elias were pretty good friends but Sykora and Elias not really (especially after their 2000 cup win). Since they were Czech the media lumped them together as "pals" but in reality they were just teammates for the most part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Not everyone's made to be a two way player. Even when Kovy 'tried' to play defense and learn how to backcheck better, the results were mixed at best so no I don't imagine Syk would have been much better had he adopted a two way mindset. He lasted 15 years in the league and won two Cups, that's a pretty good career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Sykie was alot of fun, part of the SEA Monster line ( ok everyone else called the A Line) Possibly the only time a Devs line was called best in the NHL by the so called experts!! Good Luck to him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zubie#8 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 He was my favorite player when I was a kid. I gladly put his nameplate on my Kovy jersey last summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevsMan84 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 He was my favorite player when I was a kid. I gladly put his nameplate on my Kovy jersey last summer. Better not be on a Reebok jersey! Better not! lol jk....but not really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losdiablos103 Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Always loved Petr Sykora. Have 2 of his jerseys (one legit authentic from Koho and one I changed from Kovy to PS.) Enjoy, Petey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brown Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Love ya Sykie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satans Hockey Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 This is why the Devils should really have a ring of fire. Amazing player for us and while not worthy of having a jersey retired he does deserve a night so we can thank him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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