Recchi gave them a heck of a lot more than that.
Injuries forced Recchi to take on a far more prominent role than planned, and despite turning 42 in February, Recchi proved up to every task the Bruins asked of him. But now the question is whether Recchi can do it all again after agreeing to come back for a 22nd season in the league with another one-year deal with the Bruins in June.
"Rex was a terrific player for us," said Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli when he announced Recchi's re-signing this time around. "He helped our group leadership-wise. He's a Hall of Famer to be. He's going to help with some of the young kids, so we're excited to have him back."
Last year, Recchi played in 81 games in the regular season and all 13 playoff contests. The only game he missed was the regular-season finale in Washington, when many of the club's regulars were rested after Boston had already locked up its playoff spot.
Recchi led all wingers in ice time with 17:03 a game, and he was fourth on the team regardless of position with 1,381:23 total minutes played in the regular season. He logged even more ice time when it counted most, playing 19:29 a night in the playoffs.
Recchi played more than planned out of necessity, but his solid play also made it impossible for coach Claude Julien to take him out of the lineup. Recchi finished third on the team in goals with 18, fourth in points with 43 and first in power-play goals with six, then added a team-high six goals in the postseason.
Despite originally going into last year expecting it to be his last season, Recchi insisted he had no doubts about coming back this year as his body held up fine to the heavy workload.
"I never felt bad at all during [the season]," said Recchi. "At the end of it, I still had lots left in the tank in the playoffs, which to me, I knew right there. Obviously, Claude's been great with giving me days off and giving me opportunities to get my proper rest, but I felt terrific all year. That wasn't even really a factor. I didn't even have to worry about that at all. It's more my kids and making the decision for that and being a father and stuff like that. But physically I felt great."
Recchi has been fortunate to avoid any major injuries in his career, as he's never played fewer than 69 games in a pro season other than the lockout-shortened season in 1994-95, and even then he played 49 games in a 48-game slate thanks to a mid-season trade. In the last five years, he has played in 80 or more games four times.
"I just love the game, love practicing, I love everything about it," said Recchi. "I love the training part. But while I say that, my first run I went for [this summer], about halfway I thought about retiring, but I just love everything about it. It's been my life and I'm enjoying it still. And why not play as long as I'm enjoying it and having fun and I'm helping? I think I should get that opportunity and go for it."
Recchi ranks ninth all time in the NHL in games played with 1,571, and another 80-game season could vault him all the way to fourth, behind only Gordie Howe (1,767, though he also played 419 more in the WHA), Mark Messier (1,756) and Ron Francis (1,731). He's also 13th all time in points (1,485), 17th in assists (922) and 22nd in goals (563).
Still, Recchi recognizes that time will eventually run out, even on him.
"It's definitely getting closer," he admitted. "It's definitely winding down. Whether this is it or not, I'm not sure. Obviously, you start getting up there [in age]. I'm having fun and I love it but we'll see what happens this year."
The Bruins probably shouldn't count on Recchi to be one of their offensive leaders again this year. With better health and more depth in the lineup, he should be able to play the support role originally envisioned for him last year. But even if his ice time and production diminish, Recchi will remain an important part of the team with the leadership and guidance he can lend to the club's youngsters, particularly an 18-year-old prodigy like Tyler Seguin.
That's a role Recchi relishes, and one that can definitely get better with age.
"When they're good kids, it's very easy to work with them and want to help them, and nurture them and bring them along," said Recchi. "A lot of it is just showing your work ethic in practice, work ethic in the gym, whatever it takes. They're going to have questions and they're going to go through ups and downs and you have to be a little bit of a guide to them and help them through those times.
"I love doing it, I love being a part of that and I love helping kids," added Recchi. "I'm very fortunate. I had some great older guys when I came in — Bryan Trottier and Joey Mullen — they were wonderful to me and I've never forgotten that. I've been very blessed to play with a lot of great young players that want to learn and want to get better. There's nothing better for an old guy like me to come in and it really helps me, as well."
NESN.com will answer one Bruins question every day in August.
Wednesday, Aug. 4: What options do the Bruins have to solve their salary cap problems?
Friday, Aug. 6: Is there room on the roster for any of the youngsters to earn a spot and which young players might be ready to make the leap?
