Recchi Not Ready to Retire
The Boston Bruins have decided to retain the services of veteran right winger Mark Recchi. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced on Monday that the team had re-signed the National Hockey League’s oldest active player to a one-year deal.
Though he may hold the distinction of being the oldest player, Recchi’s performance on the ice transcends age. The 42-year-old had 43 points last season and played in 81 regular season games. He also led Boston though their 13 play-off appearances, and tallied six goals and four assists.
After an off season that included the retirements of veteran players like Rob Blake and Scott Niedermayer, Recchi clearly is not ready to go.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to come back," Recchi said. "I think the Bruins are continuing to be going in the right direction. I'm excited about the moves, and to be part of the Boston Bruins again is going to be special. I want to thank Peter Chiarelli, the Jacobs family [Bruins owners] and the coaching staff for believing in me and wanting me back around."
The Bruins acquired Recchi in 2009 from the Tampa Bay Lightning and clearly got the better side of that deal. The Lightning sent Recchi and a 2010 second-round pick to Boston in exchange for forward Martins Karsums and defenseman Matt Lashoff. While this is clearly a matter of immediacy versus development, Recchi performed extremely well while Lashoff spent most of the season in the minors and Karsums returned to Latvia to play for Kontinental Hockey League’s Dinamo Riga.
After 21 seasons in the League, Recchi’s time is certainly numbered, but he is a fierce competitor and wants to avenge Boston’s unceremonious departure from last year’s playoffs. The Bruins were up three games to none in a series against the Philadelphia Flyers and became the third club to end up losing a best-of-seven series.
"I think there was some unfinished business. I have never been so disappointed, to end the way we did," Recchi said. "I think we're going to be a little bit younger and a little bit faster. I think we're going to be a better hockey team this season."
One of the main reasons behind Recchi’s return is the chemistry he shared with centre Patrice Bergeron. While Recchi played mostly on the same line as Bergeron, he praised the Bruins’ offensive depth.
"The core of the guys that we have on this hockey club was a big reason [for re-signing]," Recchi said. "I believe in these young guys and what they want. For whatever reason, I really haven't played with another centre since I've been here, maybe the odd game when 'Bergy' got hurt. From day one, I've had the great opportunity to play with him. He's one of the most underrated players in the league. We have a lot of chemistry and I believe we do a lot of similar things."
Recchi’s veteran experience will also be useful in helping develop Boston’s top draft pick Tyler Seguin. Boston selected the 18-year-old Plymouth Whalers centre with the overall second pick in the NHL Entry Draft.
When asked about Seguin, Recchi said: "I think it's wonderful. Any time you can get a player like that, that's a franchise player. We're very fortunate. Up the middle, we've got three dynamic guys, all different players. Throw this kid in the mix and he could possibly play wing, I understand. He's going to be an important part. At the same time, he can come in and just be a player, which is most important for a young kid.”
He also added: “He can come in and learn and grow and be part of a good hockey team, and I think that's very important for the development of a young kid."
Boston will in fact be better than a ‘good’ hockey team, and fans should expect them to progress much further in the Stanley Cup Playoffs than they did last season.
Tags: