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Boston Bruins Blogger •
On Thursday, the Boston Bruins announced the re-signing of UFA forward Mark Recchi. At first, I was a bit leery of bringing back the 41-year-old veteran. Recchi, the seven time all star, will return for just $1 million dollars in 2009-10. For that, I have no gripes.
Sure, he may have a lost a step or two, and his abilities may not be what they once were, but Recchi epitomizes the term warrior. He's not afraid to go into the dirty areas of the ice, never more evident than when the tip-master parked himself in front of opposing goalies on a nightly basis. He played through kidney stones during the postseason, suiting up for game seven against the Hurricanes after having surgery to repair the ailment the night prior. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and provides leadership both on and off the ice. Now, he'll have a full season to rub off on a young, impressionable roster full of Bruins.
And it's quotes like this that make you appreciate the drive that Recchi still has, even at his age, even having captured the cup multiple times in the past:
""I'm playing for one more. That's why I'm coming back," he said. "I've had some personal things I've done throughout my career, and I'm playing for one more ring. That's the most important thing for me."
For a mere million dollars, who wouldn't want a guy still capable of scoring 20+ goals, with that kind of heart and determination around?
For that, I must say welcome back, Rex.
Lucic Gets Call From Team Canada....Savard? Not So Much
You've gotta give credit to Steve Yzerman and the other head honchos of Team Canada. They're clearly making some bold moves in preparation for the 2010 winter olympics, to be held in Vancouver. One of the surprises I'm happy to see is the invitation of Bruins' LW Milan Lucic, slated to appear at camp in August with the 45 other invitees. Lucic's bruising style earned him a good chunk of time on the top line this past season, and he was successful at opening up room for linemates Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. The hard-nosed sophomore had 42 points and 136 PIM in 72 games, as his cult hero status continued to grow in Boston.
Unfortunately his pivot, Marc Savard, will not be joining him next month. Savard, who has racked up 359 points over the last four seasons, has been left off of the lengthy list of invitees. Sure, Team Canada is deep at center, as the likes of Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier and Joe Thornton are all but locks to make the team, but, shouldn't the B's top scorer and back-to-back all star at least have been given a gander?
Brad Richards finds himself in the same predicament: left out in the cold. I find it hard to justify how neither of these two will get a shot at representing their country, but Andy McDonald of the Blues will. No knock on McDonald, who posted two 75+ point seasons a few years back in Anaheim, but I just find it a bit....puzzling. Savard's defensive game has come a long way since his days in Calgary and more recently Atlanta, and is anything but a liability in his own zone. He even gets a good chunk of PK time under Head Coach Claude Julien.
As stated, Yzerman has made some innovative choices for this go-round. Newcomers like Marc Staal, Drew Doughty and Dan Cleary are all in the mix to make the squad. If Yzerman really had cojones, he'd have told Joe Thornton to sit this one out. I know, I know, too controversial. Doing so would be the ultimate slap in the face to hockey's most renown postseason under-performer. But if I was going to battle with everything on the line, and I had my choice between the carefree Thornton (who coasts around from October til May on cruise control), or the spunky, passing wizard Savard who, unlike Thornton, shows evidence of having a pulse throughout the playoffs.....I go with #91 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Guaranteed.
The Sheriff Rides Off Into the Wild
The Bruins must now bid adieu to gritty defenseman Shane Hnidy, as the sheriff has signed a one year deal ($750k) with the Minnesota Wild. Hnidy was never flashy, and possessed nothing resembling elite skill when it came to any facet of the game. What he rocked at, and what I will always remember him fondly for, was his unrivaled ability to be the best freakin' on-ice teammate you could ever have. If you were in trouble, and #34 was on the ice, you could bet your life's savings that he'd be there in less than a heartbeat.
Hnidy was a serviceable d-man, who often took more flak than he may have deserved. He was no transition master, he didn't possess a cannon of a shot, and his foot-speed was anything but lethal. But he held his own, and isn't that all you can really ask for when it comes to your 5th/6th defenseman? I'll miss Shane Hnidy: his scowl, his snarl, his uncanny ability to know when it was time to "rearrange someone's kisser". Every player on the Minnesota Wild should feel lucky knowing they'll be going to battle with someone like the sheriff this season. The B's were lucky to have someone of such character, dedication and loyalty during his tenure in Boston.
Best of luck to the sheriff in Minnesota.
JC
Shameless Twitter Self-Promotion:
Sure, he may have a lost a step or two, and his abilities may not be what they once were, but Recchi epitomizes the term warrior. He's not afraid to go into the dirty areas of the ice, never more evident than when the tip-master parked himself in front of opposing goalies on a nightly basis. He played through kidney stones during the postseason, suiting up for game seven against the Hurricanes after having surgery to repair the ailment the night prior. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and provides leadership both on and off the ice. Now, he'll have a full season to rub off on a young, impressionable roster full of Bruins.
And it's quotes like this that make you appreciate the drive that Recchi still has, even at his age, even having captured the cup multiple times in the past:
""I'm playing for one more. That's why I'm coming back," he said. "I've had some personal things I've done throughout my career, and I'm playing for one more ring. That's the most important thing for me."
For a mere million dollars, who wouldn't want a guy still capable of scoring 20+ goals, with that kind of heart and determination around?
For that, I must say welcome back, Rex.
Lucic Gets Call From Team Canada....Savard? Not So Much
You've gotta give credit to Steve Yzerman and the other head honchos of Team Canada. They're clearly making some bold moves in preparation for the 2010 winter olympics, to be held in Vancouver. One of the surprises I'm happy to see is the invitation of Bruins' LW Milan Lucic, slated to appear at camp in August with the 45 other invitees. Lucic's bruising style earned him a good chunk of time on the top line this past season, and he was successful at opening up room for linemates Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. The hard-nosed sophomore had 42 points and 136 PIM in 72 games, as his cult hero status continued to grow in Boston.
Unfortunately his pivot, Marc Savard, will not be joining him next month. Savard, who has racked up 359 points over the last four seasons, has been left off of the lengthy list of invitees. Sure, Team Canada is deep at center, as the likes of Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier and Joe Thornton are all but locks to make the team, but, shouldn't the B's top scorer and back-to-back all star at least have been given a gander?
Brad Richards finds himself in the same predicament: left out in the cold. I find it hard to justify how neither of these two will get a shot at representing their country, but Andy McDonald of the Blues will. No knock on McDonald, who posted two 75+ point seasons a few years back in Anaheim, but I just find it a bit....puzzling. Savard's defensive game has come a long way since his days in Calgary and more recently Atlanta, and is anything but a liability in his own zone. He even gets a good chunk of PK time under Head Coach Claude Julien.
As stated, Yzerman has made some innovative choices for this go-round. Newcomers like Marc Staal, Drew Doughty and Dan Cleary are all in the mix to make the squad. If Yzerman really had cojones, he'd have told Joe Thornton to sit this one out. I know, I know, too controversial. Doing so would be the ultimate slap in the face to hockey's most renown postseason under-performer. But if I was going to battle with everything on the line, and I had my choice between the carefree Thornton (who coasts around from October til May on cruise control), or the spunky, passing wizard Savard who, unlike Thornton, shows evidence of having a pulse throughout the playoffs.....I go with #91 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Guaranteed.
The Sheriff Rides Off Into the Wild
The Bruins must now bid adieu to gritty defenseman Shane Hnidy, as the sheriff has signed a one year deal ($750k) with the Minnesota Wild. Hnidy was never flashy, and possessed nothing resembling elite skill when it came to any facet of the game. What he rocked at, and what I will always remember him fondly for, was his unrivaled ability to be the best freakin' on-ice teammate you could ever have. If you were in trouble, and #34 was on the ice, you could bet your life's savings that he'd be there in less than a heartbeat.
Hnidy was a serviceable d-man, who often took more flak than he may have deserved. He was no transition master, he didn't possess a cannon of a shot, and his foot-speed was anything but lethal. But he held his own, and isn't that all you can really ask for when it comes to your 5th/6th defenseman? I'll miss Shane Hnidy: his scowl, his snarl, his uncanny ability to know when it was time to "rearrange someone's kisser". Every player on the Minnesota Wild should feel lucky knowing they'll be going to battle with someone like the sheriff this season. The B's were lucky to have someone of such character, dedication and loyalty during his tenure in Boston.
Best of luck to the sheriff in Minnesota.
JC
Shameless Twitter Self-Promotion:
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