Penguins sign two former Cup stars

Pittsburgh’s latest additions were Petr Sykora and Darryl Sydor.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the most improved teams in NHL history last season. General manager Ray Shero was convinced they needed to get even better to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins, not resting after their turnaround season, signed two former Stanley Cup winners Monday, right wing Petr Sykora and defenseman Darryl Sydor.

The signings add another proven scorer and some more protection for young stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal — and some age to one of the NHL’s youngest teams.

Also, the Penguins brought back goaltender Dany Sabourin as Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup after he spent part of last season with Vancouver. The team also re-signed defenseman Rob Scuderi.

The first two days of free agency proved unexpectedly busy for the Penguins, who kept defenseman Ryan Whitney by giving him a $24 million, six-year contract.

Bring key experience

After signing the 30-year-old Sykora and the 35-year-old Sydor, Shero cited the Stanley Cup experience they will bring to a team that previously had only three players who have taken more than a few shifts in the postseason. Sydor won the Cup with Dallas in 1999 and Tampa Bay in 2004 and Sykora was on New Jersey’s Cup-winning team in 2000.

The Penguins won 47 games last season after winning only 22 the season before, and their 47-point improvement was the fourth best in NHL history. Despite having the second-best regular season in club history, the Penguins were eliminated in five games by eventual Eastern Conference champion Ottawa in their first-round playoff series.

“Any time you can add a multiple Stanley Cup winner to a team like ours, it is a bonus,” Shero said.

Playoff experience

Sykora has 26 goals and 33 assists in 88 career playoff games while twice playing in the Stanley Cup finals. He was also with the 2003 Anaheim team that lost the Cup in seven games to New Jersey.

“Petr is a talented forward who can play in all situations,” Shero said. “Petr joining our hockey club provides us with another talented player that will complement our current group of forwards.”

Sykora tied for the Edmonton team lead in scoring with 22 goals and 31 assists last season, playing in all 82 games — the seventh time in his career he has scored 20 or more goals. Sydor had five goals and 16 assists in 74 games with Dallas, where he has spent most of his career.

Adding Sydor deepens the Penguins on the blue line, where they already have Sergei Gonchar, Whitney, Mark Eaton, Brooks Orpik, Scuderi and rookie Kris Letang, who figures to stick with the club in 2007-08. Sydor has also played on the power play during his career.

The Penguins also took a run at signing defenseman Scott Hannan, who left San Jose for Colorado, and forward Paul Kariya, who left Nashville for St. Louis. Both signed deals the Penguins felt was beyond their price range.