Pens to meet up with the Wild and Sykora tonight, or not

I’m pretty sure if you go into any 7/11 in the Minneapolis area right now and purchase a carton of milk you will see a picture of ex-Penguin Peter Sykora on it.  What has happened to the talented sniper who once patrolled the wing at times on both Crosby’s and Malkin’s lines?  We all know about the goal less drought he went threw right after scoring his 300th goal and his first ever hat trick.  We also know that because of said drought that he was relegated to being a healthy scratch for much of the end of last season and even being demoted so the Pens could activate Miro Satan in the playoffs.  Sykora got back in for one game and injured himself while blocking a shot and never suited up for the Pens again as he was not offered a contract when his expired on July 1st.

Sykora was offered a mega deal to play in Russia over the Summer but was convinced by ex-Penguin assistant GM and now current Minnesota GM to come to the Wild with promises of ice time and certain line-mates.  Sykora suffered a concussion early in the season and fought back hard to recover from that and get himself back into game shape not only to find himself a healthy scratch every night but to be told that he has to go through pre- game warm ups skates even though he has been told that he will not play.  According to his agent, “this is being treated worse than a rookie and in no way fair treatment to someone with the resume of Peter”

It’s a shame to see such a great player especially one who preformed so well for the Pens during his tenure here wind up his career like this.  I hope things work out for him because he was always one of my favorites even before he came to Pittsburgh.