The New York Czechs

Ducks send Sykora to Rangers

1/8/2006 7:01:20 PM

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CP) - The New York Rangers acquired Petr Sykora and a
fourth-round draft pick in 2007 from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for defenceman
Maxim Kondratiev on Sunday, adding another skilled Czech forward to their
offence.

The Ducks had been shopping Sykora, who has seven goals and 13 assists in 34
games this season, for a while. The 29-year-old is making $3.1 million US
this season and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

"Petr is highly skilled offensive player, who adds speed and a scoring
presence to our lineup," Rangers GM Glen Sather said in a statement. "He is
a versatile player, who we feel will play an important role on our team."

Sykora would seem to be a perfect fit for the Rangers, who have both plenty
of cap room and a stable of high-scoring Czechs including Jaromir Jagr,
Martin Straka, Martin Rucinsky and rookie Petr Prucha.

Sykora spent his first seven seasons with the New Jersey Devils and was a
member of their Stanley Cup-championship team in 2000. He has 209 goals and
481 points in 642 NHL games.



He was scratched from the Anaheim lineup on Saturday night because of what
coach Randy Carlyle called "a management mandate."

Kondratiev, 22, played in 29 games for the Rangers this season, collecting a
goal and three assists with 22 penalty minutes.

He averaged 16:16 of ice time before being reassigned to Hartford of the AHL
on Dec. 28. He was recalled by the Rangers on Dec. 30 before being
reassigned on Jan. 2.

Kondratiev was originally drafted in the sixth round, 168th overall, in 2001
by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who dealt him to the Rangers on March 3, 2004 as
part of a package for defenceman Brian Leetch.

The Rangers also said centre Blair Betts will miss six to eight weeks
because of a sprained left knee. Betts was injured less than three minutes
into Saturday's 4-0 home victory over the Florida Panthers.

An MRI taken Sunday revealed a sprain of the medial collateral ligament.

Betts, who left Madison Square Garden on crutches Saturday, has four goals
and one assist in 42 games this season.