Eric Bowser's blog on the "Two Faces of Mark Recchi" was right on the money. A couple additions:

*Once, when then-asst. coach Joey Mullen walked into a power-play meeting, Recchi sharply dismissed Mullen by saying, twice, "We got it, Joe." Meeting over. Authority dissipated.

*If a member of the hockey media criticizes Crosby's supposedly immature behavior, it's at the behest of Recchi, who is burning up phone lines nationwide to back-stab No. 87. This has reached epidemic proportion by most accounts, escalating right along with Crosby's performances.

I didn't want to believe these stories at first. But now they're too plentiful to ignore. Michel Therrien is aware of them, but has not yet acted. I'm not sure if Craig Patrick is aware of them but, at any rate, it's tough to make decisions in a coma. I'm not sure if Mario Lemieux is aware of them, but he and Crosby remain close. There's no doubt Mario would side with Crosby if/when the conflict escalates.

Thing is, the conflict won't escalate. Because there is no conflict as far as Crosby is concerned. He just shows up and does his job in a polished and professional fashion. He respects Recchi, as Recchi's seniority dictates, yet ignores Recchi's machinations as the 600-pound gorilla ignores the cockroach. Which is as it should be.

I'm not sure there anything Recchi could teach Crosby about hockey. But there's plenty Recchi could learn from Crosby when it comes to class and never-say-die attitude.

Nobody expects John LeClair and Recchi to fight an opposing player who torments Crosby. But if either was the leader he fancies himself, they would make sure somebody did.

Eric Cairns is scary. Vacant-eyes scary. Max Talbot and Colby Armstrong will fight until they die. If Crosby has more room to operate, thank those three. Don't thank Recchi and LeClair, and certainly don't thank Andre Roy, who has become reminiscent of Jean-Guy Drouin in the movie "Slap Shot."

Has there ever been anything more beautiful than Derian Hatcher being called for diving?

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