Recchi signs with Pittsburgh

[Captain Slack]

No surprise, I guess. :(

Recchi returning to Pittsburgh

TSN.ca Staff

7/24/2006 10:48:14 AM

Mark Recchi is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sources tell TSN that the free agent forward has signed a deal to return to the club that traded him to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline in March.

The 38 year-old scored 57 points in 63 games with the Penguins last season. In 20 regular season games with the Hurricanes he chipped in seven points.

Reechi was a major part of the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup run, tallying 7 goals and 9 assists in 25 games.

Recchi led Philadelphia in goals, assists and points in 2003-04, helping the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference Final.

He has scored 20 goals or more in each of his last seven NHL seasons and has accumulated 1265 points in 1256 career games.

Recchi won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991. He was later traded to the Flyers and played for the Canadiens from 1995 to 1999, before being traded back to Philadelphia.

[icestorm253]

Not too much of a surprise, but it is still very sad now that he is officially not coming back. :(

Thanks Mark for all you did!

[Fghtr4jc]

we'll miss ya mark, bang orpik for us "by accident"

[ONeillsNo1Fan]

:( Definitely not a surprise...but still...*sigh*

[Jareddragoo]

Rechhi we will miss you but you can still join on again before trade deadline. I think this was a good move for us. I like Recchi but he prob wanted to much money to play third line and also he is getting older so we can't give him a long term. Still got much love for him though. Adios Recking Ball.

[CANESFREAKinDET]

Well i figured that would happen...:( Shame, I really really liked him here! Oh well, good luck over there Mark! You're awesome!

[SabresFan29]

Was there a reason other then the money that he left?

Go from SCC to last place team for the money? Thats sad Recchi. Now if it was family reasons or something like that id understand

[icestorm253]

Was there a reason other then the money that he left?

Go from SCC to last place team for the money? Thats sad Recchi. Now if it was family reasons or something like that id understand

He has lived in Pennsylvania for a while now and his family has pretty much settled there. So I think he decided that it would be best not to move his family.

[parkwoodcaniac]

It's too bad he's leaving, I heard his family liked it here. But I guess his extented family is there.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Not at all surprising. He's got solid roots in Pitt. Everyone assumes he'll retire there.

Mark Recchi in a Carolina Hurricanes uniform, even if only for a while, is something I never thought I'd see and was a huge thrill for me (after he started fitting in a bit). Thanks for everything, Rex! Before you go....I've got something for you to smear in Orpik's jock.:evil:

[CaniacKikiBB13]

Can't say I'm suprised, but it's sad to see him go. Oh well....:(

Thanks for everything, Mark...good luck back in Pittsburgh!

[StormWarning]

Good luck Mark.. and thanks!

[Alicia]

:( Oh well...knew it would happen...

[caneshockeychick]

Thanks Mark for the time you spent here. I kinda knew he'd go back to Pitt just as I kinda knew Doug would go back to St. Loo.

:(

[KaniacFever]

Was there a reason other then the money that he left?

Go from SCC to last place team for the money? Thats sad Recchi. Now if it was family reasons or something like that id understand

Rumour had it that JR and Mark had agreed to a deal, but his wife didn't want to move out of Pittsburgh. Why she wanted to stay there I'll never know, but it also had something to do with not making the kids change schools which I can understand. And Mark is a big family guy that living in NC while his family stayed in Pitt was not an option for them.

He has his name on the cup (twice now) so I think his decision was more of a family interest then trying to win the cup again.

[nccanes]

Why she wanted to stay there I'll never know, but it also had something to do with not making the kids change schools which I can understand.

Mrs. Recchi is from Pittsburgh and they have a home there. When Mark signed with the Pens, one can presume they thought it would be their last stop.

No offense 59l, but there are so many people that look down on us in Raleigh, I hate to see anyone dis another city. I'm sure the Recchi's love Pittsburgh or Mark wouldn't have signed there to begin with.

[CanesChic]

Yeah, her whole family, parents everyone is from there..when you have 3 little kids, and your husband is on the road half the time, I'd bet that makes a big difference.

I'm glad he was here for the Cup run. There will be a lot of tongue biting all around for him I'd imagine on the night we play the Pens. :D

[SoCalcaniac]

CC & E, well said....

In a perfect world we would've kept Doug and Mark- and in a more perfect world we would still have Aaron, Matt and Gerbs, but sadly, it just doesn't work that way.

Every one of those guys made some sort of sacrifice to win the Cup, and I'm not going to make it any bigger than it needs to be, however, Mark & Doug truly answered the bell for that chance to win it again, in Mark's case, and win it for the first time in Dougie's case. Yes, they're highly paid athletes and all that, but they're still just like all of us, people with families, and creatures of habit- the same routines, knowledge of the city, etc., and they had to put that aside to focus on the goal and the dream - surely that was tough as can be.

Hub and I saw Recchi in The Eye buying stuff in that store like all of us, just the day after we won it, we congratulated him, and said 'we hope you do end up staying, but we know home is Pittsburgh' hub told him that he's a Pittsburgh native so he understood the lure - he smiled and said something like, it's been so great here and my family loved being down here when they could be here - it made a difference. For that, and for all the great things that both he and Doug said about Raleigh, the fans, the team, will always make them special people to me-- Pens fans should be thrilled to have him back and maybe a certain phenom will pick up a lesson or two from him, just like our young stars did.

[KRAZYCANE05]

I really wanted Recchi is be back in a Canes jersey next season! I even bought a Recchi shirt from the eye. Well he is a class act and I wish him well in Pitts. Thanks for the 110% every night while here in Carolina. Your name will live on as a part of the 2006 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS CAROLINA HURRICANES!!. Ok I just like saying the last part

[talkingcanes]

Recchi did what he came here to do. Thanks Mark for your contributions to the Cup. You were worth every penny of rental money and I hope you and your family are happy and healthy in Pittsburgh. You can't beat being home and I don't blame him for wanting to go back. His name is on the Cup, at least this time, with the Carolina Hurricanes and that was everyone's goal :spin:

[KaniacFever]

No offense 59l, but there are so many people that look down on us in Raleigh, I hate to see anyone dis another city. I'm sure the Recchi's love Pittsburgh or Mark wouldn't have signed there to begin with.


Well I lived in Pittsburgh and hated it. So I can have an opinion about the place. If I never lived there then your right I shoudn't dis something I know nothing about. Some people love it and some don't, for me I'm in the don't like category.

I like Recchi and hate for him to go play for fans that have no respect for him. If you go on the Pittsburgh boards more than half the fans didn't want him back. He's a great guy and does so much for a team he deserves some respect.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I think I'd pass on Recchi for 2.25 million next year, but the dude does have some soft hands around the net. Don't see how anyone could argue against that.

Was there a reason other then the money that he left?

Go from SCC to last place team for the money? Thats sad Recchi. Now if it was family reasons or something like that id understand

What is really sad is that half the Sabres team filed for arbitration. I wonder if they did that for another reason besides money?

[dakuwan]

What is really sad is that half the Sabres team filed for arbitration. I wonder if they did that for another reason besides money?

Lots of players are going into arbitration everywhere, pointing out the Sabres is a little over the top. SabresFan29's question was a legitimate one that a lot of people probably asked. Sorry, just not wanting to get the beef going again, so to speak, as im enjoying its absence on the boards ;)

Back on topic, Id rather have seen Recchi stay too but understand his reasoning for leaving. When I saw him in The Eye, i'd say he only had a few items for adults and everything else in his hands were for his kids who were also there. I can understand how family would make a big influence in his decision.

[nccanes]

CHL might have been prodding a bit, but his point is valid. Don't players make a lot of their decisions based on money? Another reason would be a desire to play in a given city. In this case, Rechhi has both in regard to Pittsburgh, so why rag on him?

If SF29 wanted to point a finger at player that left for the money, he could pick Ward or Cullen as they had no ties to NY, so one might think it was purely $$ motivated. But all players make decisions based on their own goals and considerations - very few, of which, are known to us fans. I wish them all well.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Sorry to bring up anything negative about Buffalo, but as nccanes said my primary point was that players make decisions based upon money all the time including Buffalo players, not just players in Raleigh. It's not necessarily "sad" if Recchi made his decision based on it, in my opinion. Perhaps I'm a bit touchy but I saw the original post as a dig, not as a legitimate question. If I was wrong, I apologize. It was just weird to me that he came here to comment about Recchi when the exact same thing could be said about their team co-captain, who could very well leave a successful team to play for a last place team over money once all is said and done because of his personal choice to file for arbitration.

It seems to me that would be even more "sad" than a rental player leaving to go back home which was fully expected by most accounts. But again if I'm wrong, I apologize.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Perhaps I'm a bit touchy but I saw the original post as a dig, not as a legitimate question.

I don't know if you were wrong but you certainly weren't alone.
I personally find it hard to believe anyone who follows hockey isn't fully aware of Recchi's ties to Pittsburgh. :huh:

[Teaching 4's]

I figured this was coming, but when I heard the "official" word on the radio this morning, my heart fell, and I got that horrible sad feeling. I completely understand his decision. YOu have to be proud of a Man who listens to his family... But I still HATE seeing our boys leave for whatever reason. Thanks for the memories "Reccin' Ball" !~!~ See ya in November!~!~!~

[SoCalcaniac]

I don't know if you were wrong but you certainly weren't alone.
I personally find it hard to believe anyone who follows hockey isn't fully aware of Recchi's ties to Pittsburgh. :huh:

Exactly my thoughts when I was reading the this thread...... and you said exactly what I was thinking but couldn't verbalize. ;)

CHL- You were totally NOT wrong, and definitely not alone......

[Canesluver]

I figured this was coming, but when I heard the "official" word on the radio this morning, my heart fell, and I got that horrible sad feeling. I completely understand his decision. YOu have to be proud of a Man who listens to his family... But I still HATE seeing our boys leave for whatever reason. Thanks for the memories "Reccin' Ball" !~!~ See ya in November!~!~!~

You know, he never felt like "ours" to me. I always thought of him, and Weight too, as a loaner. They made a great contribution while they were here, but they were just passing through town.

I thought of them as "contractors"-- like in the business world, where if you're going through a peak production time and you need some extra help, so you bring in contractors. You don't get too attached to 'em, 'cause you know they'll most likely be gone once the crunch is over.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I felt that way about Recchi who totally seemed like a rental to me, but not Weight. At all. It took a while but once he clicked he felt like a Hurricane. He was definitely "ours" IMO. And I hope he felt the same way. And about his teammates at least, he sure seemed to.

[toastmasterbone]

That's how Mrs. Toast and I refer to them, CL. Contractors. (Maybe because I am one.) They did a great job, saw us through to our goal, benefitted from their contributions by sharing in the team's success, but they don't get the free company-logo mug or pen. Thay can, however, have a T-shirt that fits a little too small.

I'll miss them, mostly for the good-guy locker room appeal, but I didn't expect them to stay.

[run-that-way]

I am a contractor for a living, but not in hockey. :) I agree, I thought of them the same way, all hands on deck plus a few rented hands. They were both awesome for us and I'm happy for them that we/they won and happy they are going where they will be happiest.

That's how Mrs. Toast and I refer to them, CL. Contractors. (Maybe because I am one.) They did a great job, saw us through to our goal, benefitted from their contributions by sharing in the team's success, but they don't get the free company-logo mug or pen. Thay can, however, have a T-shirt that fits a little too small.

I'll miss them, mostly for the good-guy locker room appeal, but I didn't expect them to stay.

[nccanes]

An article addressing the so-called rift between Recchi and Crosby.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_463397.html

[VandyCane]

It's gotta be interesting for Recchi to have played on a team with Staal and a team with Crosby. I think Crosby could learn a ton from Staal. Granted, Eric has had some great veteran role models on the team to learn from and he hasn't been touted as the next "great one" since he was a teenager. I would rather have Eric as a franchise Cane than Crosby any day.

[aldamon]

Cole's back and signed to a long-term deal. We don't need Recchi any more. I was more upset about losing Weight since we gave up so much (IMO) for him.

[SoCalcaniac]

It's gotta be interesting for Recchi to have played on a team with Staal and a team with Crosby. I think Crosby could learn a ton from Staal. Granted, Eric has had some great veteran role models on the team to learn from and he hasn't been touted as the next "great one" since he was a teenager. I would rather have Eric as a franchise Cane than Crosby any day.

VC- You said it & I agree wholeheartedly (shocker yes I know)
- as a Staal honk, I guess I'm pretty transparent here tooting the Staal horn cause we're talking about two completely different individuals- on a bunch of levels-Staal far humbler, truly was more mature at 18- arguably equally talented- ranked as the #1 Ranked N.A. Skater by the ISS, etc. - and Crosby had all that as well, but has had attention since he was 13 and treated like a start since then or whatever- seemingly far more aloof, and not afraid to shoot his mouth off- and while I thought Crosby was one of those special kids who didn't let the hype get to him- as he appeared so much more mature than his years, it's been crystal clear that is not the case- and not only that, he expects to be treated as special. Crosby lived an entire season in the Lemieux home you'd think he would have picked up some advice from the very low key Super Mario- Eric at age 18, and a rookie lived on his own- but somehow managed to gain plenty from the mentoring of one Ron Francis. Hmm. What irks me about these articles- is this implication by the media and 'sources' is that Recchi was somehow a cancer in their room- a cancer? in the Pens room that was swirling from day 1 and the finger gets pointed at him? Yet he comes down here, everyone welcomes him with open arms-fits right in & he had nothing but great things to say about his teammates - and I recall him singling out Eric in one interview he did- raving about his maturity as a matter of fact.

Point here is - Recchi is a class act- someone Crosby could learn a thing or two from him, and I hope all this stuff was truly blown out of proportion and the Pens can move on.

I'm like Vandy- I'd much rather have Eric than Sid as our franchise player- any day.

[Fernando da Silva]

Will be very interesting see Crosby's development next season, now that Recchi has played with Canes guys and he can pass some guts to Sid.