Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello doesn't have to find a new coach this summer, but he does have some work to do with a list of unrestricted free agents that includes Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur.

One of those players is Petr Sykora, who would like to come back next season.

"I think I had a good enough season to come back to the NHL," Sykora said. "I felt that I did my best during the season-- 20 goals, making the finals-- I hope it's going to work out."

Sykora was one of the team's biggest surprises. He was invited to training camp without a contract. He earned a spot on the team and, for much of the season, was productive as the left winger on a line with Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus.

He played all 82 games this season, scoring 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) and had six game-winning goals.

Sykora played most of the playoffs but came out when Jacob Josefson returned in the Rangers series. After the Devils lost the first three games in the Stanley Cup finals to the Los Angeles Kings, Sykora was inserted back into the lineup and the team won the next two games before being eliminated.

"Everything happened so fast. I'm probably going to go for a vacation somewhere around here for a few days and then come back," he said. "As soon as we come back from vacation we're going to go back to Czech (Republic) and hopefully I'm going to have a new job and know where I'm going to go."

Sykora, 35, hopes it will be with the Devils. He knows that the uncertainty surrounding next season with the NHL's collective bargaining agreement expiring on Sept. 15 could impact players like himself.

"For sure it could take some time. I still believe I'm good enough to play in this league and I can be a good player in this league," he said. "So my priority is to play in the NHL. Of course with the Devils. I love playing here, I love the area. I love New Jersey. For sure my priority is to play in New Jersey, but in this business you never know."