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Recchi on the Canucks: ‘When you lose that swagger, it’s tough’

Washington Capitals v Boston Bruins

of the Boston Bruins of the Washington Capitals during the game at TD Garden on March 6, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Jared Wickerham

Back in 2011, while reflecting on his Stanley Cup victory with the Boston Bruins, retired forward Mark Recchi called the Vancouver Canucks “the most arrogant team I played against and the most hated team I’ve ever played against.”

These days, the British Columbia native is actually sad to see how far the once cocky, now clearly insecure, Canucks have fallen.

“Obviously, that (2011) was a big series, but I’m still a Canucks fan and grew up one and you still want them to do well,” Recchi told The Province newspaper. “It’s tough to watch that. And when you lose that swagger, it’s tough. That’s what made them successful because they believed in what they were doing.”

Recchi also thinks Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning, considered a leading candidate to replace the fired Mike Gillis, would be a great fit in Vancouver.

“He can build around the Canucks’ core players and get pieces in there,” he said. “They’re going to have to draft really well from now on and they’re going to have to make great trades. I’d love to see him back in Canada because that (Vancouver) is a wonderful hockey market.”

Related: Recchi the latest to express regret over ripping the Canucks