15 Interesting Facts About Denis Potvin

Denis Potvin is a Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman who captained the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups and was a three-time Norris Trophy winner.

Position
Defence
Jersey
#5
Status
Retired
Teams
2
Facts
15
1

He is a four-time Stanley Cup winner.

2

He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy three times as the league's top defenceman.

3

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

4

He was drafted first overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft.

5

His jersey number 5 was retired by his team, the first such honor bestowed by the franchise.

6

He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in his first NHL season.

7

He captained his team to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

8

He became the second defenceman in NHL history to score 100 points in a season.

9

He retired as the NHL's career leader in goals, assists, and points for defencemen at the time.

10

He led the 1976 Canada Cup tournament in assists, points, and penalty minutes.

11

His team's general manager turned down multiple offers from Montreal Canadiens general manager Sam Pollock to trade for him after he was drafted.

12

He once publicly stated he played better in the 1976 Canada Cup than Bobby Orr.

13

He holds the record for most shorthanded assists in a single game with two.

14

His brother, Jean, was also an NHL defenceman and they were teammates for some years.

15

He was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

About Denis Potvin

Denis Potvin was a Canadian defenceman and captain for the New York Islanders, leading them to four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. A three-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, he was known for his offensive prowess and physical play, retiring as the NHL's all-time leading defenceman in goals and points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and later became a prominent hockey commentator.

Career Achievements & Milestones

Stanley Cup Champion

1980

Stanley Cup Champion

1981

Stanley Cup Champion

1982

Stanley Cup Champion

1983

James Norris Memorial Trophy

1976

James Norris Memorial Trophy

1978

James Norris Memorial Trophy

1979

Calder Memorial Trophy

1973-74

Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee

1991

One of the 100 Greatest NHL Players

2017

Player Information & Stats

Detailed career statistics and background information about Denis Potvin.

Player Info

Country: Canada
Position: Defence
Jersey #: 5
Status: Retired
Age: 72 years old

Physical Stats

Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Born: Vanier, Ontario

Career Stats

Seasons: 15
Goals: 310
Assists: 742
Points: 1052
Teams: 2
Drafted: 1973
Round: 1st
Hall of Fame: ✓ Inducted

Teams & Career

Ottawa 67's New York Islanders

Denis Potvin played for 2 different teams during his 15 seasons career. He was originally drafted 1st overall by the New York Islanders in 1973.