They won't have that next season as they try to defend the Cup, with Recchi opting to go out on top and retire after winning his third Cup in his 22nd NHL season.
The Bruins will explore options in free agency to fill a bit of that leadership void, but understand that they aren't going to find another Mark Recchi on the market.
"I don't think you can replace Mark Recchi," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said on Thursday. "He's brought so much to this team. So I'm not going to try to replace Rex because you can't. There will be elements that certain players can bring or help in that leadership role. But I'm also comfortable going into the year without having replaced that element.
"I feel that our group is quite strong and the younger guys have started to take the bulls by the horns," Chiarelli added. "So I'm comfortable going in, seeing how the leadership unfolds and then if we have to bolster that later I will do that, but I'm not going to rush out and try to fill it. I have to be careful how we add to this chemistry."
The Bruins' chemistry was a huge component in their Cup run, and they'll return almost the entire roster from last year. Going into this spring's playoffs, only Recchi and tough guy Shawn Thornton had previously won a Cup. Now all the returning players have experienced firsthand what it takes to claim hockey's top prize, making it less imperative to add another veteran with a proven track record.
Still, if the Bruins want to try to add another leader with Cup experience to complement their existing core, there are some intriguing names available. Chris Drury was bought out by the Rangers and definitely has the intangibles, but is there anything left in the tank after an injury-plagued season limited him to just 24 games?
John Madden has three Cups on his resume, but at 38 is also near the end of his days as an effective checker, while Jason Arnott might have more left to offer, but likely at a higher cost.
The Bruins also lost a valuable leader on the blue line with Chiarelli announcing that Shane Hnidy will not be re-signed. They could dig into their past for a defenseman like Sean O'Donnell or Nick Boynton or possibly add another physical stay-at-home rearguard like Jim Vandermeer if they want a veteran d-man for insurance instead of relying solely on youngsters like Steven Kampfer and Matt Bartkowski stepping up next season.
But Boston is just as likely to rely on the veterans already in place to supply the leadership needed.
"We do feel that the team has grown as a result of the experiences they've had over the past three years and obviously with winning the Cup," Chiarelli said. "So I'm not rushing out to get that person. And that characteristic may be in a forward or a D that we have but I'm also prepared to go without that type of player because I do feel strongly about our group.
