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50 Greatest New Jersey Devils Players Of All Time

By Nick Villano

Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n
Former New Jersey Devils players (L-R) Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens during Patrik Elias #26 jersey retirement ceremony prior to a game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on February 24, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)"n /
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New Jersey Devils
Petr Sykora #15 of the New Jersey Devils (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 19. Petr Sykora

A few iconic lines always stand out in New Jersey Devils history. The Crash Line was a fan favorite that helped those mid-90s teams take it to the next level. The 2012 4th Line was an underdog story that headline writers could get behind. However, nothing was like the “A” Line. Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias, and Jason Arnott had the best chemistry ever. They basically knew what the other was going to do, and it brought out the best in all three players. It made Sykora a Devils legend.

Sykora was the 18th overall pick in the 1995 NHL Draft.  He made the Devils right out of training camp, and he was good as a rookie. He had a different experience, including some professional experience in Europe. That helped his quick transition into the NHL. He still had some ups and downs until the 1998-99 season when the “A” Line was established. His 72 points showed he could be a top-line player for this team.

Sykora was an offensive machine for the next three seasons, putting up 72, 68, and 81 points, respectively. He was great in the playoffs, putting up 17 points in 2000 and a ridiculous 22 points in 2001. Of course, his injury in Game 6 of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final put a small haze over the celebration, but he did get to have his celebration years later.

Sykora had a weird career after being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was good there for a few seasons, before bouncing around to Edmonton, New York, and Pittsburgh before heading back to Europe. Lou Lamoriello lured him back for one more season in New Jersey, ending it where he started. He was a huge contributor, scoring 21 goals as a 35-year-old. It was his last season in the NHL, helping him pass the 1,000-game threshold.

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