Big new deal for Petr Sykora

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have signed right wing Petr Sykora to a three-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed for Sykora, who was paid $3.53 million last season. The Los Angeles Times reported the deal was worth about $12 million.

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"I am very happy," Sykora told the paper. "I was not sure if they wanted me to stay; I'm sure if (negotiations) would have gone longer, I would have gotten frustrated."

The signing meant the Mighty Ducks have retained the second of their key restricted free agents. This agreement came four days after they re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to a four-year contract worth a reported $19.5 million.

Sykora, 26, led Anaheim with 34 goals, five game-winners, and 299 shots in his first season with the team. He added 25 assists, ranked second on the team in scoring, and was one of five Ducks who played all 82 games.

He had four goals and nine assists in 21 playoff games, and had overtime winners in Game One of the Western Conference semifinals and Game One of the conference finals.

Sykora, acquired from New Jersey in a six-player trade in July 2002, has 179 goals and 230 assists in 527 NHL games.