09/12/00

BY RICH CHERE
STAFF WRITER

Ari Ahonen may be the Devils' goaltender of the future, but the 19-year-old Finnish sensation knows it may not be the near future.

Enjoying his first training camp with the Devils since they made him their top selection (27th overall) in the 1999 entry draft, Ahonen will return to Finland next Tuesday to play in the Finnish Elite League. He is hoping to earn a job as Martin Brodeur's backup next season.

"I'm so happy they've given me this opportunity to learn and to be here with Brodeur. I watch and learn. Marty, I think, is the best goalie in the NHL," Ahonen said at South Mountain Arena in West Orange.

Brodeur also is only 28 and may just be approaching his prime.

"I don't see it as a problem. Maybe it's better that I come here and be the backup goalie for one or two years because it's different than in Europe," Ahonen said.

Ahonen, who has played for HIFK Helsinki in Finland, said his goal this season is to improve his consistency.

Goalie coach Jacques Caron said it is very possible Ahonen could stick with the Devils next season if Chris Terreri isn't re-signed.

"He could. I think he has the talent to do that, but do we want him to do that? We may want him to play more in the AHL," Caron said.

"He looks very good in camp. He has a great future, great ability. He's very gifted and very poised for a 19-year-old. His size and mental approach are assets. He's not nervous and he plays focused."

Ahonen's future appears to be bright.

"I think this has helped me because the shots are harder and it's so much faster," Ahonen said. "It was a little bit of a surprise to me at first how well I can play here. I thought it would be a little harder. It's not so hard."

Notes: Coach Larry Robinson on left winger Petr Sykora, who had his tonsils removed last Thursday night: "You've got to watch. If you get your blood pressure back up, you can start bleeding again. It's tougher when you have your tonsils out when you're older."

Sykora may remain out of camp another week. ... Brodeur, who was 208 pounds last season after dropping some weight, is at 205 this year. ... Fighting forward Sasha Lakovic, who played 18 games for the Devils during a three-year stint in the organization, was not invited back. Lakovic had 10-16-26 with 144 penalty minutes in 51 games for Albany (AHL) last season.

"We just did not offer him a contract," general manager Lou Lamoriello said.

Alexander Mogilny scored in the second overtime as Brodeur's team defeated Chris Terreri's squad, 4-3, in the training camp scrimmages championship game. ... Defenseman Ken Sutton played six games for the Devils last season and did not get into a playoff game, but his name will be engraved on the Stanley Cup. "It was a nice little present," Sutton said.

Always up front, Robinson said: "I'd be lying if I said everybody's got a chance to make the big team. But there are always surprises."