While the Hurricanes' addition of Doug Weight in 2006 felt natural, the same can't be said for Mark Recchi when the team traded for him over a month later. A lot of that stems from one specific incident in early March. If not for this moment, despite the words of the then-general manager, Recchi might not have become a Carolina Hurricane.
Erik Cole was in the middle of his best season in the NHL. Heading into the Canes' tilt with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 4th, Cole had already topped his career high in goals and points, putting together his first 20-goal season (28) and surpassing 50 points (57). Even when the puck dropped for the game, Cole kept firing. Through two periods, Cole had two goals, reaching 30.
Everything came to a screeching halt early in the third period. Just over five minutes into a 6-4 contest, Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik became Public Enemy #1 in Raleigh by boarding Cole. Orpik was given seven minutes and a game misconduct, while also receiving a three-game suspension in the aftermath. Despite a 7-5 victory, the atmosphere was somber.
Pittsburgh didn't receive a proper package for Recchi
With Cole out long-term with a broken neck, the Hurricanes gave the Penguins a call about a veteran forward with a no-trade clause after scoring a hat trick in that same game. Mark Recchi had been around the block for a minute. He'd done quite a bit during his NHL career, being named to seven All-Star teams. topping 100 points three times, and winning a Stanley Cup in 1991 with Pittsburgh.
By 2006, Recchi was still trying to reach the mountaintop for a second time. He had a few close calls with the Flyers in the early 2000s, but they'd come up short both times. With the Hurricanes owning a real shot, Recchi waived his no-trade clause to accept a deal to Carolina. For Recchi, the Canes traded prospects Krys Kolanos and Niklas Nordgren, and a 2007 2nd-round pick.
Despite the great interest in Recchi from other contenders, the Penguins didn't seem to get much back for him. Nordgren had played 42 games for the Canes that season, scoring four goals and six points. He finished the season by playing 15 games for Pittsburgh, though he didn't record a point. He returned to Europe after the season, playing in Switzerland and Sweden before retiring.
The Hurricanes were Kolanos' third team that season. The former 1st-rounder began the season in Phoenix, was waived and claimed by Edmonton, and waived and reclaimed by Phoenix before being traded to the Canes. He never appeared for the Penguins, signing with Detroit in the offseason. The 2nd-round pick bounced around but landed with the Flyers, who selected Nick Marshall 41st overall.
Recchi started slowly but got hot at the right times during the playoffs
Much like Weight, things didn't start quickly for Recchi. Through his first eight games, Recchi failed to find the scoresheet. He picked it up a little towards the end of the season, scoring four goals and seven points in the final 12 games, but the Canes would need a little more from him.
Once the playoffs began, Recchi rarely disappointed. He scored a big goal against Montreal, tying the game in Game 6 before Cory Stillman ended the series in overtime. He tied for second on the team with five points against the New Jersey Devils. Recchi only scored two goals against Buffalo, though both came in wins, including the game-opening and winning goal in a 4-0 Game 4 victory.
Recchi did some of his best work during the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, recording points in five of the seven games against Edmonton. This included a goal and an assist in Game 2, the game-winning goal in a 2-1 Game 4 win, and the primary helper on the opening goal of Game 7. Recchi's six points against the Oilers were third on the team, finishing the postseason with 16 points in 25 contests.
Despite being 37 years old, Recchi still had plenty of hockey ahead of him. He re-signed with Pittsburgh in 2006 before being waived in 2007 and claimed by Atlanta. A short stint in Tampa led to Recchi being traded to Boston. He played his final three and a half seasons with the Bruins, being eliminated by the Canes in 2009 and winning his third Stanley Cup in his final season in 2011.
Retiring with 1,533 points in 1,652 games, Recchi's career was immortalized with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. He currently ranks 8th in NHL history in games played and 15th in points. He was honored by the Flyers in 2023 and inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. He's also part of the Penguins' Hall of Fame.
While Jim Rutherford was dismissive of the move being a necessity when it happened in March 2006, I'm sure he believes it was the right decision in hindsight. Both Weight and Recchi were integral parts of the team's run in 2006. Without either in the lineup, who knows what the Hurricanes would've looked like in the playoffs and whether the Stanley Cup would've come to Raleigh.