Penguins Re-Sign Roberts, Recchi

[Smerri1029]

Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero announced Friday that the Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with forwards Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts.

“Mark and Gary are talented veteran forwards who can provide essential experience and leadership to our young team,” Shero said. “They made significant contributions last season, both on and off the ice, and we’re looking forward to having them back in 2007-08.”

Recchi, 39, registered 24 goals and 44 assists for 68 points in 82 games with the Penguins last season, finishing third on the club. The 18-year veteran completed a milestone season by reaching the 500-career goal plateau, registering his 800th career assist, and hitting the 1,300 career point mark.

The 5-10, 190-pound forward has recorded 20-or-more-goals in 15 of his NHL seasons, scoring a career-high 53 goals during the 1992-93 campaign. Recchi collected a career-high 73 assists during the 1990-91 season and has notched 40-or-more assists on 11 occasions.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion ranks 10th on the Penguins all-time goal scoring list with 152 and 11th all-time points list with 376 points. Recchi has scored 508 goals, 825 assists and 1,333 points in 1,338 career NHL contests.

Roberts just completed his 19th NHL season and registered 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists), along with 97 penalty minutes in 69 games last season with Florida and the Penguins. He notched 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 19 games with the Penguins following his trade from the Panthers on February 27, 2007.

The 6-2, 215-pound forward has registered 20-or-more goals in 13 of his 19 NHL seasons, including a career high 53 goals and 90 points for Calgary during his 1991-92 campaign. Roberts has amassed 888 points (431 goals, 457 assists) in 1,137 career NHL contests. He captured a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.

[avoidlloyd]

Nice. I'm glad they kept Roberts. Recchi, I'm not sure. I love the guy. Hopefully, he has one more good season in him.

[Rugged]

I'm very, very happy to hear this. Love the leadership they both bring to the table. Thanks for the post.

[FightingIsGood]

WOOHOO! I'm very happy that Roberts will be in the black and gold for one more season. I think Roberts got a little more than I thought he would, but he'll undoubtedly earn every dime. Recchi, however, is not worth anywhere near $2 million, but at least there are incentive clauses that he'll have to reach to get the full amount.

Great job getting the deal done, Mr. Shero

[DaveBrown69]

Glad they kept Roberts. I like his style of play even if he is a tad old.

[Isles4life]

Even if Recchi is on the decline I think they were smart in re-signing both guys. The combination of veteran leadership with Sid and the rest of the young guns on the Pens should make them a pretty dangerous team next season and as the young guys mature more of a Stanley Cup contender.

[canuck2]

For the past ten years I have heard people say Roberts is done. The guy trains like an animal. I predict he plays another 20 years.

[JeanLaRose]

Roberts is like Chelios, he's old but he's probably in the best shape on the team. Awesome re-signing of him, if for nothing else than what he can teach the young guys about taking care of your body. Recchi, if he's the Recchi from the first half of last season, good signing... if he's the post All Star game Recchi... could be another LeClair.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by JeanLaRose

Roberts is like Chelios, he's old but he's probably in the best shape on the team. Awesome re-signing of him, if for nothing else than what he can teach the young guys about taking care of your body. Recchi, if he's the Recchi from the first half of last season, good signing... if he's the post All Star game Recchi... could be another LeClair.

And Roberts is even more aggressive than Chelios, just another reason to like him even more.

[Faz]

Neither of them is The Answer for the Pens, but both are part of The Plan.

They can both teach the youngsters plenty, so I'm glad to see them go around again - particularly Roberts, who is a fricken warrior. He should teach Jordy Staal how to use a big frame and keep it in good condition.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

I wonder where all those guys went who were p*ssing and moaning over giving up Noah Welch for Roberts last year.

Their agent was shopping them as a pair so it's no surprise they both landed back in Pittsburgh. Recchi showed last year that he can still play at this level, and Gary Roberts is Gary Roberts. Both bring a TON of leadership, which is beneficial for a team as young as the Pens. Also, the Pens have humongous cap room so the dollars don't matter. Mario and Co. still have plenty of room under the cap to sign more help, but whether or not they'll spend is another story.

[knucklesamwitch]

Originally Posted by BROKEN*ORBITAL

I Also, the Pens have humongous cap room so the dollars don't matter. Mario and Co. still have plenty of room under the cap to sign more help, but whether or not they'll spend is another story.

Nice in theory... the pens are working with crosby for a contract now and with all the young guns looking at big bumps in $$ in the near future, the pens cant be spending huge amounts for 4 or 5 years.

[NYR36]

I love Roberts. To bad he wasn't younger and in a Rangers jersey.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

I've heard 40 is the new 20 anyway. Good short term signings as they bring a ton of experience to a relatively young club. Roberts seemed invigorated playing for the Pens last year.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Plus on July 2nd they signed...

July 2 Darryl Sydor from Dallas Stars
July 2 Dany Sabourin from Vancouver Canucks
July 2 Petr Sykora from Edmonton Oilers
July 2 Re-signed Ryan Whitney, Rob Scuderi