Only Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Mark Messier and Ron Francis played more than Mark Recchi’s 1,652 NHL games. Jim Rutherford, meanwhile, has been in this league in some capacity since Woodstock — the first one. They know people. They’ve seen stuff.
Which is why when something catches their attention and earns their respect and admiration, you should probably take notice.
The relationship between Sidney Crosby and Mike Sullivan is a special one for Recchi, Rutherford and others to observe. While any shred of detail is kept firmly in the vault, it’s universally acknowledged as one of most crucial components to the Penguins’ run of dominance under Sullivan.