- Longevity. 14th all-time in NHL games played, could potentially pass Alex Delvecchio for 9th this year.
- With two goals, passes Ron Francis for 24th on the all-time goal scoring list.
- Needs just 17 more points to pass Stan Mikita for 13th on the NHL's all-time scoring list.
- Strong playoff performer (123 points in 151 games)
- Part of two Stanley Cup champions
- One of only seven players (to my knowledge) to record a 20 goal season after age 40 (includes players that turned 40 during that season)
- Seven-time All-Star (back when it actually meant something to go to the All-Star Game)
What's going against him:
- No individual hardware. It's the only real minus, but it's a nagging one. Even Delvecchio and Bucyk won a few Lady Byngs during their careers.
Ultimately, I see him getting in, and it's hard to say it's not justified.
It's not the hall of good over prolonged period of time... It's the HOF... He is a great piece to great teams, but he is not Hall of Fame worthy...
The problem is look at the people in the HHOF currently. Many are there based on being good/very good for many years. Recchi deserves to get in. His numbers are simply too good.
In an ideal world, he wouldn't be, but there are similar players in the Hall so he will get in.
I think he'd be perfect for the Hall of Very Good, though.
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"Is it bad that I just visualized Stevens and Cormier skating at each other full speed, saw Stevens run Cormier over and stand over him shouting "lead with the SHOULDER!" then I laughed out loud?" - Classic Devil
I could rack my brains deciding all day on Recchi and still not come up with a good conclusion. He is the most borderline prospectout there. Personally I put him below Modano and Sundin but above Roenick. There is very little separating those three but Recchi fits that bill - in between.
He has one all-star selection to his credit and that was a 2nd team all-star in '92. In his defense the RW position was extremely competitive throughout his prime. He led the NHL in assists once too, that holds a bit of water but I'll bet half of you at least couldn't even tell me what season it was which tells you how much he flew under the radar.
I think what hurts him is that when the Pens won the Cup he was instrumental but no one was more important than Mario. When he won with the Canes in '06 he was good but far from the best player. He was originally shunned from Team Canada in the '98 Olympics before filling in for Kariya. He wasn't on the '91 Canada Cup team despite putting up 113 points and 34 playoff points. He wasn't even considered either for the 1996 World Cup.
So that hurts him a lot. Plus there is nothing that defines his career that stands out. He was good for a long, long time.
Now Francis was as well, but his all around game was superior to Recchi's and Francis himself headlined a bad team for 10 years as well and still put up 101 points.
Recchi bothers me, that's all I would say. So borderline
The few. The proud.
