2008-09 Rink Wrap: Brian Pothier

This is a hard one. My expectations were that he would never play another hockey game, so that he was able to give them 16 minutes per night is 10-worthy. But, not surprisingly, he seemed to hit a wall in the 15-20 game range, and stumbled a bit early. Of course he did.

That he’s back playing deserves a big score. The actual performance was in the expected range. 7.

Btw, some of these head shots (no pun intended being in the Potsy post) crack me up. Seriously? Couldn’t find one without his tongue wagging?

Coming back from the concussion—after being written off by everyone—deserves a ten. His play didn’t stand out in any way, but we’re rating relative to my expectations.

I feel like Pothier’s on the way up. He makes this miraculous recovery and still plays solid defense immediately, so I think a full summer’s rest and training will only make him better for ‘09-’10.

An unexpected and fairly solid comeback from injury gets a 7 from me. I like Pothier’s maturity and levelheadedness. I never worry about his play when he’s on the ice (except if he gets hit really hard, then I cringe.)

Give me Pothier over Poti everyday. 10 for exceeding my expectations, and a 7 for actual performance.

I’ll be rehearsing my 2 key pressing over the weekend.

1) Being that it appeared that Pothier’s career was over, any contribution far exceeded expectations. By definition he deserves a 10 for perseverance alone.
2) He didn’t look nearly as rusty as one would have expected. As was mentioned he allowed GMGM to allow Alzner to stay in the AHL AND not have to trade for a defender at the deadline.
3) To attain a 10 NEXT time though will be a bit more difficult: Has to play 75+ games. Play as a top 4 defensemen. Be a + player and score 25+ points.

10 for me. Somewhat like Jurcia did with Alzner, Erskine played his best hockey after being paired with Pothier. So for me not only was Potsi coming back completely unexpected, so was Erskine emerging as a force on the Blue Line. And I have to give Potsi some credit for that.

Glad he is back. A really good skater on the blue line that this team desperately needs.

I had no expectation of Potsy playing this season. When he returned, and actually seemed to immediately return to top 4 Dman form, I was ecstatic. Now as I think about it more, I should have given him an 8…there really isn’t anything he didn’t do on returning, except clear out the crease better in the Pens series.

His score is determined by the factor that i didn’t expect him to play this season. So, the fact that he does, starts him out at a 10, at being way above and beyond what I could have expected of him. But the dock in points has to do with his play. He’s not the best D we have, but, for him, I’d say he played better than I expected him to (16 mins a game? after 14 months? Hell yeah). Had he played all season, he’d have probably gotten a 5, but the perseverance is remarkable.

I thought he was done like dinner. Finito, caput, turn out the lights and empty the ashtrays because the show is over.

Just the fact that he actually showed up on the ice and contributed wildly exceeded my expectations.

Next year is a more interesting question. Now that we know he can contribute, he’s going to have to live up to his salary and the role he was brought here to perform: Top 4 defender and PP presence.

I’d say if he’s a regular contributor on the second line of the PP, plays 18+ minutes a night, ends up with 15 goals, 25+ assists, and a +/- in the upper teens, I’d give him a 10. Doubt it happens, by the way.

… that he returned to the NHL at all would have earned him a 9. That he was effective was a 10… period.

To stay at a 10, he needs to emerge as one of the top 4 d-men on the team along with Poti, Green and Alzner. Given his determination and grit, I won’t bet against him.

A nine for me because of the obvious. I expected nothing and he gave a lot more. When he was originally signed, Pothier was forced to play at a level beyond his capabilities. Now, playing on the second and sometimes third pairing, he looks far more comfortable. Assuming none of the eye/head problems return, I looking for a really solid season in 09/10. Maybe just as important as his play will be his presence on what could be a very young defense. As we’re seeing with the Wings and the Pens, veteran leadership on the D is absolutely crucial in the playoffs.

I have to be true to what I said last year.

“A 10 from me next year is if he ever again plays effectively.”

Thus, he got a 10.

This guy will provide a major boost to our DCorps next year, I’m extremely excited to have seen him back in action.

10. Because in September, I thought he’d been living the rest of his life dealing with major limitations on being able to just play with his kids.

The thing that bothers me about the whole Pothier thing was the way McPhee pretty much said, “We’re getting Pothier back and this will be like getting a free agent”. I think that’s a lot of weight to put on a guy who hadn’t played in a year and a half. Didn’t he know that he wasn’t close to game shape? It was almost like he used that as his alibi for not getting anyone at the deadline.

Hopefully he’ll be a solid defenseman next year.

Could Pothier emerge from September camp as more than a third pair defenseman?

I’d call it possible but unlikely. Of the top four spots I’d think three are going to go to Green, Schultz, and Poti and there’s going to be still competition from Jurcina, Morrisonn (if he’s still around), Alzner, and maybe Carlson.

10, just for playing. Well done, Potsy.

I was going to give him an 8, but I decided to read the comments first this time. And after reading the comments, I decided I would rather be the kind of person who gives Pothier a 10, so that’s what I did.

I voted 10 for all the reasons above.

Next year’s expectations – 3/25/28 some number, with 18’ per game, playing 75 games. Some PP time.

For a 10 next year, in the neighborhood of 10/40/50, 19-20’+ per game.

-d

I gave him a 8, and not just because I expected his career to be over. While his play was nothing special in the regular season, he really impressed me in the playoffs. He was very steady and surprisingly willing to play a physical game for a guy who missed over a year with a concussion. It was encouraging to see and makes me hopeful for his play next season.