Petr Sýkora

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Pittsburgh Penguins
league = NHL
position = Right Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 190
nickname = the old magnidagorsk, Sykie
nationality = Czech Republic
birth_date = Birth date and age|1976|11|19|mf=y
birth_place = Plzen, CS
draft = 18th overall
former_teams = New Jersey Devils
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
New York Rangers
Edmonton Oilers
draft_year = 1995
draft_team = New Jersey Devils
career_start = 1992


image_size=225px

Petr Sýkora (pronEng|pɪitɝ/ɹ̩ sɪkɔɹɑ, born November 19, 1976 in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia) is a professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Before being drafted, Sykora spent several seasons in the Czechoslovak Extraliga and the IHL. As a Cleveland Lumberjack, Sykora became the youngest player ever to play in the IHL at 17 years and 71 days. [citeweb|title=Petr Sykora Official Player Page|url=http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8460465&service=page&tab=bio|accessdate=2008-05-09]

In the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Sykora was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the New Jersey Devils. Among that draft class, only Jarome Iginla has scored more points.

Sykora began his NHL career in 1995-96 with New Jersey, posting 42 points in his rookie campaign, as well as being chosen as the NHL Rookie of the Month for December. [citeweb|title=Petr Sykora|url=http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=5514|publisher=NHL Players Association|accessdate=2008-05-09] In his fourth NHL season, his career would take off, recording a breakout 72 points, which still stands as the second highest total of his career. As part of the Devils' effective A-line, with Patrik Elias and Jason Arnott, he helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup in 2000. The next season, Sykora and the Devils were only game away from repeating as Stanley Cup champions, but lost in the seventh game to the Colorado Avalanche. That year, Sykora recorded career highs in goals (35), assists (46), and points (81).

However, the next season, Sykora's offensive production dropped to just 48 points, and the before the start of 2001-02, he was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for Jeff Friesen and Oleg Tverdovsky. In his first season with Anaheim, Sykora appeared in his third Stanley Cup final, but lost to his former teammates from New Jersey. En route to the finals, he scored the game-winning quintuple-overtime goal in the fourth-longest playoff game in NHL history in Game 1 of the quarter finals against Dallas.

In 2002, Sykora was selected to play for the Czech Republic in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where the team placed fourth. Two years later, Sykora also represented the Czech Republic in the 2004 World Cup. However, his greatest achievement on an international level came the following year during the 2005 World Championships, in which Sykora helped lead the Czechs to the finals to play Team Canada. In a stunning upset, the Czechs beat Canada 3-0, marking Sykora's first gold medal in an international tournament.

While the NHL lockout was in effect, Sykora played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Super League, scoring 31 points in 45 games. As NHL play resumed, in 2005-06, Sykora requested to be traded from Anaheim and on January 9, 2006, the New York Rangers acquired Sykora in exchange for young defenceman Maxim Kondratiev and the return of a 4th round draft pick the Rangers had previously traded to Anaheim.

After completing the season with New York, it was announced on July 7, 2006, that Sykora would not return to the Rangers, and he was subsequently signed to a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. On a line with countryman Ales Hemsky, Sykora maintained the previous few seasons' scoring output and managed 53 points.

In July 2007, Sykora signed a 2-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent. After initially playing with Sidney Crosby, Sykora was later lined up with Evgeni Malkin after Crosby suffered an injury towards the end of the season. Benefitting from high-caliber linemates, Sykora enjoyed his best offensive season since 2000-01, tallying 63 points.

Reaching the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Sykora scored an overtime goal in game five after "calling" it to on-ice reporter Pierre McGuire in the second overtime. [citeweb|title=Pittsburgh Penguins marvel at Petr Sykora's called-shot goal|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/03/sports/NA-SPT-HKN-NHL-Stanley-Cup-Sykora.php|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-06-04|date=2008-06-04] With the Penguins down 3-1 in the series, Sykora scored the next period on the powerplay to force a game six. However, the Penguins could not stave off elimination for a second straight game and lost the Cup to Detroit. The series marked Sykora's fourth time playing in a Stanley Cup final.

Career statistics

References

External links

*hockeydb|10760