Sykora value measurable beyond 'big goals'

By Rob Rossi, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Penguins team without right wing Petr Sykora wouldn't include 37 percent of their winning goals, 18 percent of their power-play markers and 11 percent of their overall tallies.

"He scores big goals all the time," center Max Talbot said Monday of Sykora, whose 24th goal Sunday against Boston at Mellon Arena was also his ninth game-winner.

"I'd love to see him stay. Not just for that; he's got a presence in the locker room, too."

The Penguins may soon face finding those goals and that presence from another top-six winger. Sykora, 32, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and negotiations on a new contract between his representatives and the Penguins, on-going until mid-February, are unlikely to resume until after the season.

Sykora reiterated yesterday his "wish is to stay with the Penguins." He is seeking about a $500,000 raise on his $2.5 million salary and a contract termed at more than two years.

"For me ... that would be huge," Sykora said of long-term security with his next contract. "You can't really say what's going to happen, but for me the important thing is to stay with the Penguins, have a chance to win the Stanley Cup and have the chance to play with (Evgeni Malkin) or (Sidney Crosby)."

Penguins general manager Ray Shero, whose club is about $2.13 million under the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, said yesterday he will not publicly discuss that state of talks with Sykora's agent, Allan Walsh.

"I'm not going to speculate on any contracts or non-contracts," Shero said. "To me, that's probably the best way to go. We're in a playoff fight here."

Walsh, via a text message, said "it is not appropriate to discuss contract issues publicly at this time."

"For Petr, now is the time to play hockey," wrote Walsh, who declined additional comment.

The Penguins (37-26-8, 82 points) likely would not possess a playoff spot entering a home game tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers without Sykora's offensive contributions in what he termed a "down year."

Only 43 NHL players had scored more goals than Sykora before games last night. His total rated third among Penguins, behind only Malkin and Crosby.

Over the past two seasons Sykora has played the role of Paul Shaffer to Malkin's David Letterman. With a combined 130 goals and 311 points, current scoring-leader Makin and Sykora have anchored a scoring-line option to complement the perceived top unit that now includes Crosby, left wing Chris Kunitz and right wing Bill Guerin.

The Penguins have averaged 4.17 goals in six games with Kunitz and Sykora in the lineup — a 1.14 per-game difference than their season average, 3.03.

Crosby suggested yesterday their 5-0-1 record in those contests is no coincidence.

"Teams don't have two checking lines or two top (defense) pairings, and that makes us really tough to play against," Crosby said, citing a comparison to the Penguins' Stanley Cup final run last season behind a line consisting of Sykora, Malkin and left wing Ryan Malone and Crosby's unit with wingers Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis.

"It would always depend on what line was playing stronger, and that's good for us."

Helping to provide favorable matchups for the Penguins is hardly Sykora's only value, Crosby said.

"He's a pretty calm guy, pretty laid-back and he keeps everything pretty level for us."

Talbot said Sykora wields great influence over Malkin, who has morphed from a quiet follower to a joke-cutting leader in his third season.

That influence may make Sykora more valuable to the Penguins than any team. Starting next season they have $43.5 million committed to Malkin over five years.

"He means a lot to 'Geno,' he's like a brother to him — the perfect complement to (defenseman Sergei Gonchar)," said Talbot, who was Malkin's traveling roommate.

"What we've seen from 'Geno' this year — talking more, showing more of his personality — Petr has helped a lot with that."