"There were a couple of key elements to my game. I worked on passing the puck. That was as important to me as developing my shot and probably became my most valuable asset. I had a good wrist shot, and I was taught that shooting and passing were the same. But the most fun I had was hitting. I enjoyed the contact, and hockey provided me with a lot of opportunities," he said.
He came across as extremely self confident, some would say arrogant which hurts him in talks of all time greats. In the 1976 Canada Cup he was outspoken about Bobby Orr getting all the attention when he felt he was playing just as well. And when he prematurely retired in 1988 he said he had "nothing left to prove" after 15 seasons.
"The confidence that I displayed was a security blanket. There were a lot of nights when I was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to do what I was supposed to."
Critics also questioned Potvin's dedication to the game.
"I hated practicing, and I didn't like waiting between games. I was most happy when the puck was dropped and the game started. I only felt comfortable and confident that I'd make the right decisions when I was on the ice."
When he was a junior hockey star, he was already being labeled as the game's next Bobby Orr. The comparisons were justifiable, as Potvin bettered many of Orr's OHL records.
"I didn't like being compared with Orr," he admitted, "because we were different personalities with different playing styles, skating for different teams. The only thing we had in common was that we both played defense. What these statements about me and Orr do is make my job that much harder, but I accept that as part of the business."
Potvin justified the comparisons though. He broke all of Bobby Orr's goal and point records, although has since been passed by the likes of Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. He finished with 310 goals, 742 assists and 1052 points. He was the first defenseman to record 1,000 career points.
Potvin retired early in the minds of many. He still had a number of good years ahead of him, but he wanted to go out on top.
"Before I retired, I wondered, 'What can motivate me? Is there another record, another Stanley Cup?' It looked as if the 1988 New York Islanders were not going to get a lot better quickly and compete with the Oilers for the Cup, and I was 35 years old. I thought of playing somewhere else, but that didn't feel right. I looked for something new and different instead."
That something different proved to be broadcasting. He now works on the Florida Panthers broadcast team.
Potvin epitomized the NY Islanders. He, like his team, could play any way you wanted. Rough, physical defensive hockey; fast paced, finesse skills match; or a combination of both. This makes Denis Potvin one of the greatest and most complete players to ever grace a sheet of ice
6 comments:
potvin number 1! ever
Did you know that Denis Potvin scored the fastest three goals by a defenseman in a game . He did it on october 14 , 1978 against the Toronto Maple Leafs , in only 3 minutes and 21 seconds . this is an N.H.L record .
My family lived in the same Long Island neighborhood as Denis and he was just as nice off the ice as he was tough on it!
He always had time to talk when you'd see him out and about, then you'd go watch him play that night and you got the best on-ice defender I ever saw live!
I miss those great days in Islander history!
After Bobby Orr, Potvin was the next best defenseman of all time. Orr was in a class by himself. Potvin had it all. A wicked wrist shot where he could score from the blue line. Outstanding defensively, a tough, mean hitter, great hip checks, and maybe the best passing defenseman ever. Because he was such a great all around player, his passing often went unnoticed. Early in his career, until other teams caught on, consistently, he would stand behind his net, take a quick step to the side, and laser a pass right on the stick of a teammate at center ice, sending the teammate on a breakaway. Never saw any player before or after him that could do that. His hits were almost as devastating as Scott Stevens, who in my book was the hardest hitting defenseman ever. And he could also rush the puck, and deke players out, although he did not do that very often in Al Arbour’s defense first system. And let’s not forget that Potvin captained 4 Stanley Cup champions. Not only did Potvin have no weaknesses, but when you think about what you want in a defenseman, he excelled in every aspect. That’s what makes him better than any other defenseman after Orr.
Potvin was the best all around defenseman in hockey history period. Literally no one could bring to the rink what he brought every shift game in and game out. Orr would beat Potvin in a footrace but could not compare with Potvin's defensive prowess and tenacity. If you saw him play or watch older videos of him he is one of the meanest players of the 80's he was vicious. Scott Stevens is different from Denis Potvin in that every time i have seen scott stevens throw a hit he leaves his feet and leads with his elbow or shoulder. Potvin would hit you with a hip check with the ferocity of a train wreck and most importantly his hits were clean players would abandon the puck if they saw Potvin closing in on them. Aother thing not mentioned often about Potvin is that he got screwed out of the Norris Trophy multiple times throughout his career when he was clearly the leagues best defenseman and was given to lesser defenseman than him whether it was statistically, or pure playing ability on the blueline there was no better. The reasons mentioned above is why Denis Potvin is the greatest defenseman of all time. All time great players at a position have to be able to do everything required of their position they play on the ice. That is why gretzky is the greatest offensive player in NHL history, Bossy is the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL history, Gordie Howe is the freatest forward in NHL history, and why Denis Potvin is the greatest defenseman in NHL history
I just wish Denis Potvin would've considered being a coach. He's an excellent communicator, which combined with his intensity, translated into the great leader he was for the Islanders. He could easily function behind the bench as someone who could push all the right buttons and get his players going.
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