Another week, another rumor.
But this week there is some legitimacy to
the possible deal for Anaheim winger
Petr Sykora.
My take? It's baffling. And here are 5
reasons why ...
1. Sykora's Production
Yes, he had a fantastic season in Jersey
with Arnott and Elias in 00-01 with an
81 point output.
But in the season after that when he was
taken away from those players, he sank
back to 48 points in the same 73 games.
He now seems to have settled into a
55-point scoring average, having not broken
the 60-point barrier since that year in NJ.
2. Petr Prucha
I argue that the second line is doing just
fine with Prucha being the gunner.
Why bring Sykora into the fold? He's not a
playmaker, and he doesn't play in traffic.
Prucha makes Sykora unnecessary.
3. Cap Gives Us One Move
The hard salary cap gives us one move this
season to pick up additional salary. Don't
waste it on Sykora.
If the team needs to address production,
especially with an eye towards the playoffs,
then defense is the priority.
The point on the power play is sub-par, and
Tyutin and Kondratiev have not stepped up
as hoped.
Roszival and Malik are our first defensive
pairing; that can be improved.
4. Anaheim Deals Are Sub-Par
We did this already with Rucchin, didn't we?
And in spite of the "leadership" talk by fans
who have never been inside the lockerroom,
count me as thinking he's underachieved.
It's likely his play has been affected by his
back injury, but he's been at best on a par with
Moore and Betts, and 16 points in 31 games is
not sufficient for a player earning $2.2 mill.
5. Yutes Deserve More Shots
Other than Jagr, it's the younger players who
are being given a shot that have given the team
the surprising start.
Lundqvist in nets. Prucha on the power play.
The third and fourth line almost in their
entirety.
Unless the player is a slam-dunk upgrade,
if Sather thinks we need more offense, then give
the kids in Hartford a shot - such as Nigel Dawes,
or Jarkko Immonen.
We've had great success given kids an opportunity
this season, and even if they don't match the
output of Sykora, it still gives the team the
advantage of developing a player for next season.
Conclusion on Sykora? Take a pass.
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