Recchi signing is official

The team announced the official signing of right wing Mark Recchi to a one-year deal that pays $1.25-million with incentives that could bump it to $1.5-million.

Here is part of the team's announcement:

“Mark Recchi is a guy who we will be counting on both on and off the ice,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said. “He is able to play in a top-six forward role, but can also be productive on the third and fourth lines. Adding him to the roster significantly increases our depth. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion and a great leader, having him in the locker room will help our younger players and also create a strong culture in the dressing room.”

Recchi, 5-10, 195 pounds, played in 72 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Atlanta Thrashers last season. He recorded 14 goals, 48 points and seven power-play goals last season. Recchi scored two goals and recorded eight points in 19 games with the Penguins. He was placed on waivers December 4 and was claimed off re-entry waivers by Atlanta on December 8, 2007. The 19-season veteran made his Atlanta debut on December 12. Recchi went on to score 12 goals and record 40 points in 53 games with the Thrashers. He finished the season second on the team in points and assists, and was tied for fourth in goals. He ranked third on the Thrashers with 23 power-play points while also ranking second in power-play goals and assists.

A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, Recchi has amassed 1,410 career games, 522 goals, 1,381 points, 180 power-play goals and 80 game-winning goals. At the end of the 2007-08 season he ranked third all-time among active players in points and assists, fifth in games played and seventh in goals. He has 15 career 20-goal seasons, including seven consecutive entering the 2007-08 season. He has also notched seven 30-goal seasons, four 40-goal seasons and one 50-goal season. He has scored seven hat tricks in his career. Recchi has been named to the All-Star Game seven times, including being named the most valuable player of the game in 1997 after scoring three goals. He led the in assists in 1999-00 with 63 and was third in points with 91.

After beginning his professional career in 1988, Recchi went on to play 63 games with Muskegon of the International Hockey League and record 50 goals with 99 points. He also played in 15 games with Pittsburgh that season, recording a goal and two points.

Recchi is a veteran of 140 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 47 goals, 117 points, 16 power-play goals and nine game-winning goals. He is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with Pittsburgh in 1991 and with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. In 1991 he averaged more than a point per game as he recorded 10 goals and 34 points in 24 games. With Carolina in 2006 he recorded seven goals and 16 points in 25 playoff games, including two goals and six points during the seven-game Stanley Cup Finals against Edmonton.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round, 67th overall, in the 1988 Entry Draft, Recchi spent his junior career in the Western Hockey League. He played in 174 career games with New Westminster and Kamloops, recording 108 goals and 291 points.

Internationally, Recchi represented Canada at the 1988 World Junior Championships, the 1990 World Championships, 1993 World Championships, the 1997 World Championships and the 1998 Olympics.

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