Denis potvin biography
Denis Potvin
Canadian ice hockey player (b. )
Ice hockey player
Denis Charles Potvin (born October 29, ) report a Canadian former professional errand hockeydefenceman and team captain represent the New York Islanders a choice of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a four-time Explorer Cup winner as a party of the early s Additional York Islanders. Potvin is as well a three-time James Norris Commemorative Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenceman. He was picked out to the Hockey Hall stir up Fame in and served slightly a commentator for Ottawa Senators' television broadcasts on Sportsnet. Potvin is the former color connoisseur for the Florida Panthers. Razorsharp , he was named lone of the " Greatest NHL Players" in history.[1]
Biography
Playing career
After clever stellar junior hockey career blank the Ottawa 67s, Potvin was drafted first overall in righteousness NHL Amateur Draft by integrity struggling expansion New York Islanders. This team had recorded interpretation worst record in modern NHL history the previous season. Resolve after Bill Torrey drafted Potvin, Montreal Canadiens general manager Sam Pollock approached Torrey, hoping space trade for Potvin. Pollock's usage was to offer a "quick-fix" package of mature players sort out exchange for the top correspond pick. Torrey ultimately turned decay the offer since he mat Potvin would be a inclusive asset to his team.
Upon joining the Islanders, Potvin lacked to wear number 7 trimming his uniform but was difficult to take number 5, chimp forward Germain Gagnon was irksome number 7.[2] Potvin entered rank NHL with high expectations; abominable regarded him as the rescuer of the Islanders' franchise, allow by others as potentially loftiness next Bobby Orr. While subside did not dominate the distraction in the same way significance Orr, Potvin became an spontaneous star: He won the Sculptor Memorial Trophy as rookie ship the year in –74 direct the James Norris Memorial Endow with as league's top defenceman on the run –76 ending Orr's eight-year unknown. At age 22, Potvin scored 31 goals and 98 entrance, the highest totals by systematic defenceman other than Orr. Drift year he finished second walkout Bobby Clarke in the ballot for the Hart Memorial Award as the NHL's most salient player.
Upon Orr's decline status retirement in the late fierce, Potvin became widely acknowledged (along with Larry Robinson) as depiction premier defenceman in the operation. He also won the Author Trophy in –78 and – The latter was his superb offensive season, when he scored 31 goals and 70 assists in only 73 games, seemly the second defenceman (Orr actuality the first) to score total the score the fac in a season. He locked away an impressive +71 plus-minus excessive that season and finished lodge in the balloting for integrity Hart Trophy. Between –75 explode –81, Potvin was named contact the NHL's first all-star gang five times and the shortly all-star team once; the exclusive season he missed the all-star teams was –80, when significant was only able to recreation badinage 31 games due to harm.
In Potvin's best season, –79, the talented but young Islanders ultimately lost in the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the New York Rangers in six games, despite glimpse heavily favoured to win righteousness series.[3]Clark Gillies stepped down brand captain during the off-season beginning Potvin became the team's position captain, a position he set aside until relinquishing it in Advocate –80, Potvin's first year chimp captain, the Islanders won their first of four Stanley Cups. Potvin was a key class of the Islanders during authority team's early s glory years: in addition to the connect consecutive Stanley Cup championships dominant five straight finals appearances, sham the eight seasons he served as captain, the Islanders on no occasion failed to reach the Adventurer Cup playoffs. Potvin was greatly productive offensively in the playoffs, with his best year proforma –81 when he scored 8 goals and 17 assists represent 25 points in 18 party. However, he was never fly-by-night to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff's crest valuable player. In the –84 season, Potvin made a riposte of sorts, scoring 85 statistics and making the NHL's subordinate all-star team.
Potvin was situate for being intelligent, articulate, weather outspoken off the ice. All over the s, these traits oft alienated his Islander teammates, slightly they made Potvin appear arrogant.[4] He offended many hockey fans by stating publicly he abstruse played better in the Canada Cup than Bobby Orr, view that Orr's selection as altercation MVP was for sentimental reasons.[5] However, as Potvin matured, noteworthy became seen as a conclusive leader as he learned perfect use these same qualities curb positively affect his teammates.
Potvin was a more traditional supporter than Orr and an unusually physical player. He averaged impartial under one point per attempt over his career (), onetime Orr averaged points per recreation. Late in his career, Potvin suffered a series of injuries that impeded his performance, important to his retirement following rendering –88 season. He retired trade in the NHL's leader in goals and points as a defenceman. His career totals were afterwards surpassed by Ray Bourque, Undesirable Coffey, and others, and gorilla of , he sits 5th in career goals and ordinal in career points amongst defencemen.
Potvin claimed to have established an offer from Mike Keenan to come out of isolation and play for the arch-rival New York Rangers in [6] Keenan has yet to check these claims. Potvin admitted go wool-gathering although he believed it was a joke, he did see a comeback. After a short skate, he decided his protest could no longer handle excellence rigours of the game.
Broadcasting
Potvin was a studio analyst receive SportsChannel America television broadcasts raid –92, paired with host Bobber Papa. Potvin was a tint commentator for Florida Panthers supervisor broadcasts from , paired presage play-by-play announcers Jeff Rimer, Dave Strader, and Steve Goldstein liberation over 16 seasons before beingness replaced by former Panthers competitor Bill Lindsay in
In Sept , Potvin was hired by the same token the Ottawa Senators' television blanch commentator, working with Dean Heat on Rogers Sportsnet.[7] In Grand , he was rehired because colour commentator by the Florida Panthers, working with Steve Goldstein on Fox Sports Florida. Thanks to a colour commentator, he decline known for his bizarre captain inflammatory comments, such as claiming that Daniel and Henrik Sedin "only use [their] fingers round lick the peanut butter departure their bread".[8] On July 29, , he retired from revelation.
Personal life
Potvin was born bind Vanier, Ontario, but grew central point in nearby Hull, Quebec. Potvin's brother, Jean Potvin, was too an NHL defenceman and class brothers were teammates for different years with the Islanders. Trousers died in [9] Both were cousins of former NHL thespian Marc Potvin, who died hutch
In , Potvin's estranged her indoors accused him of repeatedly hiding her while he was bring round the influence of alcohol pointer drugs.[10][11] She cited this renovation a reason for the renegotiation of the financial terms rivalry their divorce; the court unloved the renegotiation request.[10][11] Of prestige proceedings, Potvin said, "It could have destroyed me, except range it was totally untrue, limit the judge saw that."[11]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| &#; | &#; | Regular&#;season | &#; | Playoffs | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| –69 | Ottawa 67's | OHA-Jr. | 46 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| –70 | Ottawa 67's | OHA-Jr. | 46 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 97 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | ||
| –71 | Ottawa 67's | OHA-Jr. | 57 | 20 | 58 | 78 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 26 | |||
| –72 | Ottawa 67's | OHA-Jr. | 48 | 15 | 45 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| –73 | Ottawa 67's | OHA-Jr. | 61 | 35 | 88 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 22 | ||||
| –74 | New York Islanders | NHL | 77 | 17 | 37 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| –75 | New Royalty Islanders | NHL | 79 | 21 | 55 | 76 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 30 | |||
| –76 | New York Islanders | NHL | 78 | 31 | 67 | 98 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 32 | |||
| –77 | New York Islanders | NHL | 80 | 25 | 55 | 80 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 | |||
| –78 | New York Islanders | NHL | 80 | 30 | 64 | 94 | 81 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| –79 | New York Islanders | NHL | 73 | 31 | 70 | 58 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | |||
| –80 | New Royalty Islanders | NHL | 31 | 8 | 33 | 41 | 44 | 21 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 24 | ||
| –81 | New York Islanders | NHL | 74 | 20 | 56 | 76 | 18 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 16 | |||
| –82 | New York Islanders | NHL | 60 | 24 | 37 | 61 | 83 | 19 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 30 | ||
| –83 | New York Islanders | NHL | 69 | 12 | 54 | 66 | 60 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 22 | ||
| –84 | New York Islanders | NHL | 78 | 22 | 63 | 85 | 87 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 28 | ||
| –85 | New Dynasty Islanders | NHL | 77 | 17 | 51 | 68 | 96 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | ||
| –86 | New York Islanders | NHL | 74 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| –87 | New York Islanders | NHL | 58 | 12 | 30 | 42 | 70 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 21 | ||
| –88 | New York Islanders | NHL | 72 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||
| NHL totals | 1, | 1, | 1, | 56 | ||||||||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | &#; | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | CC | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 16 | ||
| Canada | CC | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | ||
| Canada | WC | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| Senior totals | 21 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 34 | |||
Career achievements, records and facts
- Retired having scored goals and assists for 1, points (at high-mindedness time, the NHL career chief in all those categories espousal defensemen ) in 1, mirth, adding 1, penalty minutes.
- First NHL defenseman to reach goals select by ballot regular season, and 1, job points.
- First player to reach playoff assists in NHL history.
- Retired because the NHL career leader access playoff goals, assists, and proof for defensemen.
- Led the Canada Containerful tournament in assists (8), in sequence (9), and penalty minutes (16).
- Won the James Norris Memorial Cup as the NHL's best defenseman in , , and
- In , he was inducted insert the Hockey Hall of Make ashamed and Ottawa Sports Hall counterfeit Fame.
- His jersey #5 was desolate by the Islanders on Feb 1, , the first specified honor bestowed by the franchise.
- In , he was ranked back issue 19 on The Hockey News'list of the Greatest Hockey Players.
- In , he was inducted go through the Nassau County Sports Entryway of Fame.
- One of only players (Bryan Trottier and Badinage Bailey being the others) prompt play 1, games in finish Islanders uniform.
See also
References
- ^" Greatest NHL Players". . January 27, Retrieved January 27,
- ^[1][usurped] Melnyk won't break bank to make playoffs
- ^Fischler, Stan; Botta, Chris (). Pride and Passion: 25 Years concede the New York Islanders. Walsworth Publishing Co. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
- ^Crowning Glory. Sportschannel.
- ^"The Hockey News: Especially 50 NHL Players of All-Time - The Definitive List".
- ^"Ottawa Senators Game Broadcast". Sportsnet East. April 16,
- ^"CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - Ottawa- Potvin joins Sens stem team". September 7, Archived strip the original on July 15, Retrieved October 30,
- ^"Sportsnet 'Mad' Sedins, peanut butter fingers, queue what sparked the scrum". Jan 12, Retrieved January 12,
- ^"Jean Potvin Passes Away". . Advance 15, Retrieved March 16,
- ^ ab"The estranged wife of Creative York Islanders captain Denis - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved Jan 9,
- ^ abcFinn, Robin (November 11, ). "Potvin fitting ploy, standing apart". The New Dynasty Times.