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New Jersey Devils: Mark Recchi Brings Big-Time Experience

By Vincent Parise

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coach Mark Recchi of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk with his players during a time out late in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coach Mark Recchi of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk with his players during a time out late in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils named Mark Recchi as one of their assistant coaches.

Wherever Mark Recchi has gone, success seems to follow. That goes for him as a player and assistant coach in the National Hockey League. He was hired by the New Jersey Devils to be one of the assistant coaches on head coach Lindy Ruff’s staff Tuesday. This is a great move for the Devils as they try to develop their young core and teach them how to win. With a guy like Mark Recchi in the mix, they should have an advantage over a lot of teams in terms of player experience behind the bench.

So, Recchi was a good player, right? Well, he was so good that he is a Hockey Hall of Famer. In 1652 games, he has 577 goals and 956 assists for 1533 points. That is a lot of games and a lot of points spread out. He was also a premier defensive player as he was a top-50 Selke Trophy vote-getter three times (as a right-winger). He was also a gentlemanly player as he was in the top-50 for Lady Byng Trophy voting 12 times in his career.

Those are all traits of a guy who knows what it takes to be a good teammate, a good all-around player, and a key piece to a championship squad. That is why it makes sense that he is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion with three different teams. He won it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. He later won it again with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He then capped off his career with one last one with the Boston Bruins in his final NHL season.

Being a good player on good teams isn’t where the experience ends for Recchi either. He has been with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a developmental coach and as an assistant coach. His name is on the Stanley Cup another two times with them in 2016 and 2017 as a developmental coach. He was then promoted to assistant coach following the 2016-17 season. His contract was not renewed after this past season. As mentioned before, wherever Recchi goes, success follows.

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This is the type of big-time experience that New Jersey needs. They have some very young talented players on their roster right now that need to take the next step. Recchi has the tools in his toolbox to help them reach that potential. He should be able to come together with Lindy Ruff and help them become a much more dynamic group than they have been over the past few seasons.

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