Where Has Petr Sykora Been?
Zack Dawson | Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 28, 10:39 AM | Hype this story!
The date was February 25. The Penguins were skating in a 0-0 game against the New York Islanders. It was a true goaltenders’ duel, with Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury and New York’s Yann Danis were stellar in net, stopping everything that came their way. It seemed that there was no one who could break the tie.
But at 17:32, someone did. It was Petr Sykora, getting his 23rd of the campaign. It was also his team-leading eighth game-winning goal, as the Pens would complete the shutout 1-0.
This was what Petr Sykora was all about: Scoring the timely goal and pushing his team ahead. There isn’t a Penguins fan who doesn’t remember his goal in Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Sykora calls scoring the game-winner, then goes out and scores it. No one was surprised that it was Sykora that did it.
It’s what he does.
Following the win over the Isles, the Penguins embarked on a critical five-game road trip that could make or break the season. Sykora played in the first four games, but only registered a single assist down that stretch. He would miss the next three games due to injury, which some surmised was the reason for his lack of production on road trip.
He returned to the lineup on March 14 against Ottawa. He was hardly noticeable in the effort, a 4-3 shootout loss. It was his return game, so a little rust may have been the cause.
But the following day, against the visiting Boston Bruins, Sykora was once again fairly invisible. However, he would make a quick appearance at 9:29, giving the Pens a 5-4 lead at that point. They would go on to win 6-4. Another game-winner.
Since that goal, however, he has not shown up on the scorecard and has registered only six shots in those four games. His lack of production is only half of the story. He has seemed out of place at times, missing on shots and failing to connect on plays. He is typically not known for playing much defense, either.
Overall, his play has been poor.
Sykora is historically a streaky scorer. This season alone, he has only two multiple-game point streaks of more than two games, the longest being only four games. But those streaks were highly productive, producing five points over three games from November 11-15, and 10 points over four games from December 11-20.
This is of extreme concern for the Pens with seven games remaining going into Saturday’s key matchup against the New York Rangers, a four-point game in the playoff hunt. As part of the “second” line with Evgeni Malkin, he will need being producing if the Pens hope to be successful down the stretch. He isn’t the only point of concern for that line, as left wing Ruslan Fedotenko has gone without a point in nine consecutive contests.
Fedotenko has not played entirely bad, generating some intensity in the last few games with his play in the boards, but that is certainly not Sykora’s forte. He is counted on to score goals. If Malkin can’t rely on him, he tends to try to do too much. This often results in turnovers and missed opportunities in the offensive zone. There have been a number of examples during the Pens’ current eight-game home stand.
Is it possible that Sykora came back from injury too early? It’s hard to determine that without being in the locker room, or better yet, being Sykora himself. He has been battling a nagging back and a sore shoulder for large portions of the season. Perhaps at 32-years old, his body doesn’t heal as quickly as it used to. Since his return, he has not had that jump that Sykora has been known to exhibit. Perhaps a little more time is what he needs, but he’s playing because the Pens don’t have time to spare.
Is it that he is simply slumping? This would make some sense, given his streaky scoring. Currently at four games without a point, it matches his season high for a third time. If the numbers serve, he is due to score a point against the Rangers. But the way he has played, it’s hard to predict whether he will be able to turn it on, or when.
Regardless of the reason, the Pens will need Sykora and the “second” line to find their offense again. Having only one primary scoring line will not cut it in the post-season. Right, Sykora and Fedotenko have found a way to hinder the league’s leading scorer when on their established line. And though Malkin has been scoring points with others, whether on the powerplay or with Sidney Crosby, he has maintained his high level of play despite his line mates.
Last season, Malkin and Sykora were a force on the ice. They like playing on a line together and truly have the chemistry needed to make plays and generate offense. If the Pens want to go deep in the post-season again this year, they will need that to happen again. They will need Sykora to keep his end of that bargain up.
Comments
East
Mar 28, 11:01 AM
Sykora is the most one dimensional player the Pens have. He does NOTHING else but chip in some goals here and there, sometimes weeks apart. He is the definition of soft. I wouldnt give him a 1 year deal, let alone a 3 year deal.
toaster
Mar 28, 12:52 PM
that’s kind of harsh, but hard to argue against now that Satan is gone—because Satan certainly WAS the most one dimensional player the pens had.
bag o' pucks
Mar 28, 01:49 PM
Pens thought the first period today was only 18 minutes. Joke finish to that frame.
Zack Dawson
Mar 28, 01:55 PM
There certainly aren’t too many Satan fans around, and his absence is making Sykora’s lack of two-way play more prevalent.
The difference between Satan and Sykora was that Sykora was at least producing fairly well. He was leading the team in goals at one point in the year. That has tapered off a bit, though it could be because of the injury problems for Sykora.
But he very well may be the most one-dimensional player on the starting roster.
Jonathan Farzalo
Mar 28, 04:38 PM
Would anyone be surprised totally to see Satan back up once the playoffs hit? Perhaps in Sykora’s role or at least sharing time with him, i dunno, just asking.
Pens1967
Mar 28, 06:44 PM
Keep in mind Sykora is getting virtually no PP time since Bylsma insists on keeping his top PP unit out for almost the entire 2 min PP time. Since Malkin plays on the PP, that takes him out his normal 5 on 5 rotation. So I think Sykora just isn’t getting that much time at full strength with Malkin. Today, for example, the Pens had 7 or 8 or 9 PPs – that’s nearly a period where Sykora did not play at all.
Also Sykora does not kill penalties and the Pens have been taking a lot of those lately.
I’m not sure it’s fair to say Sykora doesn’t play defense. After all, he spent most of his career in NJ and if you don’t play defense, you don’t play there. Sykora might not hit, but that doesn’t mean he’s not defensively responsible.
Zack Dawson
Mar 28, 08:40 PM
@ Tom: Sykora will be the starter down the stretch, no question. And Caputi and Pesonen will have a shot at making the team (providing Pesonen is re-signed).
The thing is that while Pesonen has been excellent at the AHL level, there are concerns about whether he will make it to the team next year. He is 26 years old, and has been in systems for four years. He never made the jump while part of Anaheim’s system, and he did not look great in camp this year or in his few appearances on the big club.
Now, I realize that it’s tough to make an assessment of him based on so few games. But there have been murmurs about his real chances of making the jump to the NHL. For the Pens’ sake, I hope he can make the jump and be a big scorer for us. I just have my doubts.
@ Pens1967: I suppose you’re right in saying that Sykora is conscious of how to play defense, and I’ve personally seen him back check. However, he is not prolific at it. It’s one of the softer aspects of his game, as is his aforementioned board work.
That is what the Pens will need to be concerned with. The up-tempo style has not benefited Sykora much thus far.
bag o' pucks
Mar 28, 08:55 PM
I also think that Syks is still dealing with a lingering injury, but if he’s well enough to play, he’s going to play. Suggesting that he goes on IR and the Pens call-up someone is folly. Pesonen has probably played his last game in Pittsburgh, barring significant injury. He’s UFA July 1 and will have a better chance playing in the NHL elsewhere.
I also expect Satan will be back up at some point in the playoffs but, again, unless a top six gets hurt he won’t play. I’ll take my chances with Sykora at 80% over Satan or Pesonen at 100%.
Zack Dawson
Mar 28, 09:42 PM
Agreed Pucks, Sykora is much more battle ready than either Satan or Pesonen. Sykora has a knack of turning it on in the playoffs. I’d like to see him finish the season strong, though.
bag o' pucks
Mar 30, 02:16 AM
No, if Syks is just dinged up you let him play through it. Plus, the Pens play one night from last Sat to next Sat, so he’ll get some rest. If he couldn’t go Wed, he wouldn’t, and Malkin would skate with Fedo, Dupuis, Cooke, et al, and Adams fills in on the 4th line. But you want Syks to keep working, keep going over the boards so that he has some semblance of timing when the playoffs start in three weeks. To sit him for an extended period now would mean to screw up any chance he has over the next three weeks to get back into his rhythm.
I’m not so sure Pesonen has huge potential. He’s a good offensive player at the AHL level, but the AHL graveyards are littered with guys who played great there and couldn’t cut it in the NHL for one reason or another.
If guys like Jason Krog, Darren Haydar, Keith Aucoin, Alex Giroux & Pierre Parenteau can’t crack an NHL roster, I have yet to see why Pesonen can. Every season those guys are at least a point per game in the A and get little more than a cup of coffee in the N. Often it’s the little guys, but Giroux isn’t a little guy and he still rides the busses.
Pesonen’s best chance, in my opinion? Leave Pittsburgh and sign with the Islanders. If Richard Park and Andy Hilbert can log 15 minutes of ice time there, so can Pesonen. But I’ve seen nothing to indicate Pesonen is a top six guy on a playoff contender.
cirdon
Mar 30, 11:37 AM
@Bag O’Pucks: You can’t say that Pesonen doesnt have nhl potential, sure he may get a call up every now and then and not do much, but thats also because he’s not being used in a role that he strives in….he’s not a checking line player, and thats generally where he gets used when he gets called up. Now i’m not trying to say he’s got a ton of nhl potential but, you cant say he doesnt either if he hasnt been given a proper chance.
Sure bring up guys like Jason Krog…I get the opportunity to watch him play at all the MB Moose home games, and he could crack an nhl line if given a legit chance…once again for example this year he gets called up to Vancouver and doesnt get many points and “perform” like he does the ahl, but thats just becuase he being use on a third and fourth line and seeing no PP time, unlike how he’s a first or second liner and on the PP for the Moose and when when you see lots of time your generally going to put up big points and have lots of opporunties to do so.
bag o' pucks
Mar 30, 01:45 PM
@Cirdon, I didn’t say Pesonen doesn’t have NHL potential, I said I’m not so sure he has “huge potential,” as Tom thinks he does. Yours is a common complaint about AHL scorers who are brought up and get 8 or 10 minutes per game on a third line in the NHL: “He’s not being used properly.” But, like all those other similar complaints, it’s baseless.
You don’t bring up a guy from the AHL and give him 20 minutes with Crosby or Malkin. You do not. That would just be stupid. You ease a guy in, give him those 7-10 minutes (depending on the course of a particular game) and see what he can do with them. Caputi and Jeffrey got themselves noticed starting with that time, and their responsibilities increased until they hit that bit of a wall, then they were rightfully returned to the A after getting a good cup of coffee.
Pesonen’s problem is that he’s one-dimensional (a phrase tossed around here a lot, lately). Talbot, Dupuis, Fedotenko, Cooke, these guys are versatile players. They can take a few shifts on a top line, and play a lot on checking lines. If a player is going to be one dimensional, he better be really good at that one dimension, like Sykora, Godard, and Scuderi are at their particular trade. Minard’s one dimensional, for example, but his sniper ability just isn’t NHL caliber. He can’t get his shot off quickly enough in the NHL. The goalies move quicker, the D closes quicker. That one second speed difference between the two leagues is too much for him to overcome, to this point in his career. So far, Pesonen’s one dimension hasn’t looked NHL caliber.
Not to mention that if Pesonen gets 8 minutes with Talbot and Dupuis, he’s just gotten 8 minutes with linemates who are better than anyone in WB/S, regardless of their NHL role. Pes better be able to show something with those guys. He hasn’t.
As for Krog, no, he couldn’t crack an NHL scoring line “if given a legit chance.” The guy is 33. He’s been through over a dozen camps and failed to prove every single time that he can cut it in the NHL. He’s a career minor leaguer, just like Haydar, Aucoin, etc., etc.
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 30, 04:19 PM
I have to agree with Bag on this one.
I absolutely, 100 percent do no buy the “he’s not used in the proper role” argument with regard to minor leaguers getting called up.
When a minor league player gets promoted, he can’t just be thrown on a scoring line with one of Malkin or Crosby. It’s throwing the player into the deep end of the pool without floaties. He’ll sink.
Instead, you have to put him in the shallow end. See if he can stay afloat and tread a bit of water where it’s safe before you see if he can do the breaststroke.
Shero, Bylsma and the management crew aren’t looking for stats, though they certainly don’t hurt. Instead, what they’re looking for is how well the player is adapting to the NHL game. Can he keep up with the faster players? Is he able to make a quality pass and take a quality shot under pressure? Is he capable of carrying the puck, thinking ahead of the play, getting himself into defensive positioning?
If the answer to (most of) these questions is yes, then he’ll get more icetime with better players. If the answer is (for the most part) no, he’ll stay on the third or fourth line or get demoted, as all of them have.
Janne Pesonen was completely invisible in the NHL during his few brief stints. When he touched the ice, he did nothing. Nada. Zip. For a player who so effortlessly produces offense in the AHL, he should be able to at least show hints of that in the NHL regardless of what line he is on. And, again, it has nothing to do with stats and everything to do with observations.
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 30, 08:40 PM
@Tom, great players prove greatness in far more ways than simply scoring points. The Penguins aren’t simply sitting on talent that could help this team. Shero is not stupid. He knows the team’s talent inside and out.
The Penguins are winning games at a very high percentage right now, and there is zero reason to insert an inexperienced player into the lineup at this point — the most stressful and difficult time of the season to play — unless it is absolutely, 100 percent necessary.
Sykora’s mini-slump clearly isn’t hurting the team’s or Malkin’s offense. So, therefore, there is zero reason to promote anyone.
As for my “denigrating” of the AHL, well, that’s just ridiculous. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I absolutely love watching young hockey players pave their way into the NHL. The fact that I feel each player must prove himself (whether it is in the ECHL, AHL, NHL, all three, or a combo of them) does not mean I don’t feel there is legitimate talent there.
I simply feel that rushing young players will have nothing but negative effects: if they are in over their head, you could ruin their career, and if they play really well, you’re speeding up their free agency years and paying them more money quicker.
Caputi likely will have a serious shot at making the team next year, as will Goligoski, Pesonen, Lovejoy, Curry, and possibly even Jeffrey. But that doesn’t mean they should be here now. And that also doesn’t mean they are guaranteed success when they do get a chance.
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 30, 11:21 PM
@Tom, my apologies for misreading your comment. Regardless, my point remains. For every successful AHL player promoted to the NHL, you have two, three or more successful AHL players who amount to very little, if anything, in the NHL.
If extremely young players such as Luca Caputi, Dustin Jeffrey, John Curry, Ben Lovejoy and others find that they are being held back and opt to leave the Penguins, so be it. They can do so via trade, as the Penguins control their rights for years. If players such as Pesonen and Minard leave, well, good luck to them. Minard cleared waivers a few weeks back. Pesonen hasn’t had to, but he’s been vocal on numerous occassions that he understands the inner workings of the AHL/NHL and is ready and willing to put in the time and effort to work his way up. If a one-year North American pro has that big of an ego that he can’t wait for his turn, he has issues, and I want him gone.
This is a team game. It has very little to do with individuals (aside from those extraordinary players such as Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin and VERY few others) and everything to do with a team mentality. Those that don’t understand that are those who don’t make it very far.
I’ve seen very few cases of legitimate prospects grumbling over a lack of a promotion, resulting in their forced departure and subsequent NHL success. Blake Wheeler comes to mind. Offhand, that’s the only one.
In fact, I believe the opposite more often is the case: players see a challenge ahead of them and consequently work harder and force the team’s hand to give them a spot. Kris Letang comes to mind. After being healthy scratched in the AHL, he came back as a dominant defenseman at both ends of the ice, not just the offensive zone. Soon after, he earned a promotion to the NHL and hasn’t looked back since.
Marc-Andre Fleury is the perfect example of a player who was strung along. He played in the NHL early, then was yanked all over the place. Clearly that hasn’t changed his opinion of the team, as evidenced by his lengthy contract. What about Brooks Orpik, who was shifted from defense to forward for several games. The ultimate insult to a defensive defenseman. He signed longterm too.
Looking at these situations in a bubble, I can see where you are coming from. But expand beyond that bubble and look at what history suggests, and you’ll find that very few players are held back in the AHL who are truly NHL-ready. And those who are understand that there is more to promotions and demotions than simply looking at AHL success for a youngster or an NHL slump for a veteran.
BallofHate
Mar 31, 11:58 AM
According to Tom, apparently there’s no difference between legit prospects like Tangradi and Zabotel and guys like Pesonen and Minard.
Pens youth will want to play elsewhere because they don’t get promoted to the NHL immediately without proving themselves at the pro level anywhere.
Losing guys like Taffe and Minard to free agency is a disaster. Never mind the fact that Taffe was on the free agent market for three weeks last year without a single offer from another club, or that Minard has cleared waivers with zero takers.
Dustin Jeffrey is the second coming of Kevin Stevens. Hey, I like the kid, too, but you’re the only one who thinks that he’s a power forward.
Janne Pesonen is the second coming of Teemu Selanne. Anaheim must have not noticed.
In one post, you write that the Pens should have a half-dozen rooks in the lineup next season, and now you’re the AHL advocate.
Can’t have it both ways, Tom.
The one thing that has become abundantly clear is that you have no idea whatsoever how the hockey industry works.
bag o' pucks
Mar 31, 12:28 PM
I think Tom’s a little confused.
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 31, 05:20 PM
@Tom, a simply response here: How many teams promote significant numbers of prospects on a regular basis? Not many. The best teams supplement their rosters with one or two prospects each year…and that is it.
What you are ignoring is that the Penguins already ahve their top prospects in the NHL. Malkin, Crosby, Letang, Kennedy, and Staal all are at an age when most players are in the AHL, ECHL or college ranks. With all of them in the NHL, it’s only reasonable to accept that there could and likely will be a lull in prospect promotions. That lull is soon to be over, as players such as Caputi, Pierro-Zabotel, Tangradi, Goligoski, Jeffrey and others begin to round into NHL form. But, with that being said, I am quite confident all of them realize they will have to put in their time in the AHL before earning a permanent promotion — and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, as evidenced by the model seen around the NHL.
bag o' pucks
Mar 31, 05:29 PM
Tom, I’m saying you’re confused that I’m unconcerned with prospects performing successfully at the AHL level. I distinctly recall debating with you the merits of the AHL proving grounds while you were penciling in Tangradi and Zabotel to the big club’s roster next season, regardless of whether or not that was a cap discussion.
I also think you’re way off the mark by comparing someone like Pesonen to the list you cited of: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Letang, Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Stamkos, Toews and Kane. Pesonen isn’t even in the same galaxy as those guys. Frankly, neither are Tangradi, Zabotel, Caputi or some 90% of the rest of the NHL. Not all players are created equal. Those guys didn’t need AHL seasoning but they’re very much the minority.
And just to sort out a semantic issue with some examples of what I think of when I hear the following terms:
Prospect – a young player (say, 18-22 or 23) with both substantial talent and room to grow the sum of which indicates a legit chance to develop into an NHL regular. See: Tangradi, Caputi, Zabotel, Grant, etc.
Depth player – a solid minor-league performer who can play a handful of games if necessary for the big club in the event of injury, but who’s talent sum is not sufficient that they will ever likely (key word) be NHL regulars and have probably already hit their talent ceiling. These players are in their mid-late 20’s or beyond. See: Taffe, Minard, Mormina, Engelland, Krog, Haydar, etc.
I never considered Minard or Taffe a prospect, never will. Those guys are depth players, and the AHL is full of them. At the start of the season, I think a lot of folks considered Pesonen a prospect. Now, I think most folks consider him a depth player. I’m leaning towards the latter. We’ll see what the org really thinks of Pes come the off-season and how thoroughly, if at all, the Pens pursue re-signing him.
Moving on…
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