Denis Potvin

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Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg/14 st 9 lb)
Pro clubs	New York Islanders (NHL)
Nationality	Canada
Born	October 29, 1953 (1953-10-29) (age 54), Ottawa, Ontario, CA
Pro career	1973 – 1988
Hall of Fame, 1991

Denis Charles Potvin (born Ottawa, Ontario, October 29, 1953) is a former defenceman and team captain for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League and cornerstone for the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams in the early 1980s. His brother, Jean Potvin, was also an NHL defenceman and the brothers were teammates for a number of years. He was a cousin of late former NHLer Marc Potvin.

[edit] Playing career

After a stellar junior hockey career with the Ottawa 67s, Potvin was drafted first overall in the 1973 National Hockey League Amateur Draft by the struggling expansion Islanders, which had recorded the worst record in modern National Hockey League (NHL) history the previous season. Right after Torrey drafted Denis Potvin first overall in the 1973 entry draft, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Sam Pollock approached Torrey, hoping to trade for Potvin. Pollock's strategy was to offer a "quick-fix" package of mature players to exchange for the top draft pick. Although it was tempting, as the Islanders would immediately benefit from the trade, Torrey ultimately turned down the offer since he felt that Potvin would be a long-term asset to the team.

Potvin came into the league with extraordinarily high expectations of being the savior of the franchise as well as the next Bobby Orr. While he did not dominate the game as did the great Boston defenceman, Potvin became an immediate star, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 1973-74 and the James Norris Memorial Trophy as league's top defenceman in 1975-76, 1977-78, and 1978-79. Upon Orr's decline and retirement he was widely acknowledged, along with Larry Robinson, to be the premier backliner in the game.

Potvin was known for being intelligent, articulate, and outspoken off the ice. Throughout the 1970s, his Islander teammates often were turned off as these traits made Potvin come across as arrogant.^{[citation needed]} He offended many hockey fans by stating publicly that he had played better in the 1976 Canada Cup than Bobby Orr, and that the latter's selection as tournament MVP was for sentimental reasons. However, as Potvin matured, he became a great leader as he learned to use these same qualities to positively affect his teammates.

His best season offensively was 1979, during which he became the first defenceman besides Orr to score 30 goals and 100 points in a single season, marks which even today few defencemen have reached. Potvin was awarded his third Norris trophy for the regular season, which the Islanders finished first in the NHL. However, despite being heavily favored to win their semifinals series against the New York Rangers, the Islanders lost in six games.^[1] Clark Gillies stepped down as captain during the off-season, and Potvin became the team's third captain, a position he held until relinquishing it in 1987. In 1979-80, Potvin's first year as captain, the Islanders won their first of four Stanley Cups. Potvin led the team during its glory years: in addition to the four consecutive championships and five straight finals appearances, in the eight seasons he served as captain, the Islanders never failed to reach the playoffs.

Potvin retired as the National Hockey League's leader in goals and points by a defenceman. Potvin's mark was later surpassed by Paul Coffey, who was a more productive scorer but not known for physical or defensive play.

In retrospect, he was a more traditional defender than Orr and an extremely physical player who nonetheless toppled Orr's career scoring marks, although Potvin played 403 more games than Orr. After his peak years, Potvin suffered a series of injuries that impeded optimal performance, especially during the regular season, but remained a star, retiring after the 1988 season. Potvin declined an offer to come out of retirement and play for then-Rangers coach Mike Keenan in 1993.^[2]

[edit] Current life

Potvin is currently a color commentator for Florida Panthers television broadcasts on Fox Sports Net Florida. He is the only color commentator in team history, having been paired with Jeff Rimer, Dave Strader and most recently, Steve Goldstein. His brother, Jean Potvin now serves as a studio color commentator for New York Islanders television broadcasts on Fox Sports Net New York.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] Career Achievements and Facts

• Retired having scored 310 goals and 742 assists for 1,052 points (at the time, the NHL career leader in all those categories for defencemen) in 1,060 games, adding 1,356 penalty minutes.
• Retired as the NHL career leader in playoff goals, assists, and points for defencemen.
• Currently 36th all-time in assists, and seventh among defencemen.
• Currently 57th all-time in points.
• Won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman in 1976, 1978, and 1979.
• His jersey #5 was retired by the Islanders on February 1, 1992, the first such honor bestowed by the franchise.
• In 1991, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 1998, he was ranked number 19 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
• In 2002, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
• There is a tradition at Madison Square Garden to chant "Potvin Sucks!" during New York Rangers home games, particularly when the Islanders are visiting. The tradition began after Potvin checked the Rangers' Ulf Nilsson on February 25, 1979 and broke his ankle. Detractors of Madison Square Garden have cited ruts in the ice as contributing to Nilsson's injury.

[edit] References

1. ^ Stan Fischler and Chris Botta, Pride and Passion: 25 Years of the New York Islanders, page 77.
2. ^ Sports of The Times; Blues Faded After Keenan Said 'Potvin' - New York Times

[edit] See also

• Notable families in the NHL
• Captain (ice hockey)
• List of NHL players
• List of NHL seasons
• List of NHL players with 1000 points

[edit] External links

• Denis Potvin's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Denis Potvin's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database