Recchi 171 goals Tocchet 130. In that sense Mark Recchi had almost as many points in those five years than Tocchet had the rest of his career. 436 for Recchi in 5 years 458 for Tocchet the entire rest of his career.

To make that stat even better Recchi went on and scored 1370 points after being traded. Recchi scored more points after being traded than Guy Lafleur, Denis Savard, Jean Beliveau, Teemu Selanne and many other great players scored their entire careers.

Just the points Recchi scored after being traded would rank him 22 highest scorer in NHL history.

Tocchet was useless because without Lemieux he was worthless. Which showed in his 40 points in 51 games -15 the year Lemieux was out.

Now let’s look at Recchi’s numbers during that span. From 1994-95 through 1998-99 Recchs averaged 25 goals, 66 points, and 71 games a season. Give Recchi the edge in overall production and durability, and Tocchet the nod for toughness. But “Toc” actually had a higher goals-per-game average (.388) than Recchi (.348).

FYI, Tocchet also had a higher goals-per-game average for his career (.384 to .349). Recchs had the advantage in points-per-game (.928 to .832). To me they both were terrific heart-and-soul players who were huge contributors to the Pens’ first two Cup wins.

After the trade they went 17-15-4–and then 37-28-15 in 1974-75 (their first winning season). Unfortunately they went belly-up following the playoffs and were bought by a group that included Wren Blair. He slashed the farm system to the bone and started trading younger guys for veterans (remember Simon Nolet and Ed Van Impe?). To me, that’s what started the decline.

Still, Polis had lots of promise (guess he could skate like the wind). He went from the Blues to the Rangers and scored 26 goals in 1974-75–including a four-goal game! But his knees gave out and his career ended prematurely.

Obviously, we’ll agree to disagree on this one. At the time of the trade, the Pens were in a complete funk (something like 4-11-2) and were in serious danger of sliding out of a playoff spot. As much of an offensive force as Coffey was (he was brilliant with the puck), he was … to be kind … weak defensively, a fact that didn’t escape coach Scotty Bowman.

Recchi was a terrific offensive player (70 points in 58 games, I believe) but was something like a minus-15 (I’m at work and so I don’t have the exact numbers).

The bottom line is, the mix the Penguins had wasn’t working. They had too many of the same type of players. Both the Rangers and Capitals were mauling the Pens in head-to-head competition.

Patrick (correctly) deduced that the Pens needed more fire and toughness. (Don’t forget the Pens had an emerging Jaromir Jagr behind Recchi.) They got it in spades with Tocchet, who was a consistent 30-40 goal man at that stage of his career, not to mention a darn tough fighter. And while Samuelsson would never make anyone forget Coffey, he was a very effective defensive d-man (much better plus/minus than “Coff” during their Pens career).

Don’t forget. Even though Tocchet’s Penguin career was relatively brief (he had back problems in 1993-94) Patrick parlayed him into Luc Robitaille (who was traded for Petr Nedved). These guys were at least as productive as Recchi during that span.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved Recchs and was thrilled when the Pens got him back. But without this trade, the Pens don’t win a second Cup.

Okay, I’m done … I’m waiting for the Neal/Niskanen for Goligoski shoe to drop …

Here are a few facts for you. In 1991 the Penguins had a dynasty in the making. They had 6 of the NHL’s top 15 scorers ever on their roster. Five of which were in their prime. The only team to ever come close to that was the Edmonton Oilers who won four cups in 6 years with 3 of the top 15 players ever.

Mark Recchi was fresh off leading the Penguins in scoring and without Recchi the Penguins wouldn’t have even made the playoffs yet alone their first cup, he also was second in scoring in the playoffs for the Penguins. At trade deadline the next season Patrick trades away two of the best players in NHL history in their prime (Paul Coffee and Mark Recchi) for a forward that couldn’t skate, a defenseman that was a worse skater and a backup goalie.

The Penguins went on and won the cup that year, yes, which they would have done anyway. In selling their dynasty, they only won 6 playoff series in the 7 years that followed that. Let me say that again in capital letters, THE PENGUINS ONLY WON 6 TOTAL PLAYOFF SERIES IN THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE SECOND CUP and this is the reason (given by the Penguins) the Penguins were not able to meet payroll and we almost lost the Penguins to another city because of bankrupsy.

Rick Tocchet was traded at the end of the next season when it was discovered the slow plodding winger was useless without Lemieux. Only playing 2 1/4 seasons with the Penguins.

The Penguins did Ken Wreggett did do a fine job as BACKUP goaltender.

The human pylon Kjell Samuelsson was pretty much booed out of Pittsburgh a year after Tocchet and went back to Philly.

At the same time Recchi and Coffee were putting up incredible numbers. Recchi finished 5 times in the top five scoring in the NHL, 8 times in the top ten. So all things considered, trading away a Dynasty ranks as the number one DUD in Pittsburgh Penguins history.