Jean Potvin

Jean René Potvin (March 25, 1949 – March 15, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Cleveland Barons, and Minnesota North Stars from 1970 to 1981. He was the older brother of Denis Potvin and cousin of Marc Potvin. He began his junior career in 1967–68 with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey Association, During that playoff season, Potvin scored two goals and had 10 assists for 12 points in 12 games. A decade later, Goring, Smith, and Potvin would be teamates again on the first two New York Islanders' Stanley Cup-winning teams, in 1980 and 1981.

He was traded along with Ross Lonsberry, Bill Flett and Eddie Joyal from the Kings to the Flyers for Serge Bernier, Bill Lesuk and Jim Johnson on January 28, 1972.

During his 11-year career, Potvin scored 63 goals and had 224 assists in 613 career NHL games. He led the league in games played with 78 in 1973–74.

On January 22, 1976, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Nassau Coliseum, Potvin scored three goals and also added an assist, while his brother Denis had two goals and two assists of his own. Two of Jean's goals came on the power play, with his final two goals coming 45 seconds apart. Potvin's hat trick is the only one by an Islanders defenceman not had by Denis.

Potvin was involved in the last Christmas Day fight in NHL history. Potvin, who played for the Los Angeles Kings at the time, fought Ernie Hicke of the California Golden Seals on December 25, 1971. Both players were charged with 5 penalty minutes. Potvin and Hicke were later teammates on the Islanders from 1973 to 1975.

Broadcasting career Potvin worked on Islander radio broadcasts both late in his playing career and following his retirement, when he was paired mainly with Barry Landers. Potvin won the Stanley Cup in 1980 with the Islanders in spite of spending the entire playoff run in the announcer's booth serving as color commentator with radio play-by-play man Bob Lawrence. In 1981 he played only 18 games for the Islanders. Again, he spent the playoffs serving as color commentator with Landers.

Potvin was recruited by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette as an institutional salesman in 1990. Over the course of the next 23 years, he worked for quality institutional firms including First Albany, Oppenheimer & Company, and Morgan Keegan & Company. Actively involved with different charities over the years, Potvin was also on the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America in Nassau County for over a decade.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1966–67 Hull Volants QJHL 45 22 27 49 115 — — — — — 1967–68 Ottawa 67's OHA 54 18 17 35 138 — — — — — 1968–69 Ottawa 67's OHA 54 17 23 40 116 7 1 7 8 20 1969–70 Springfield Indians AHL 61 3 5 8 42 14 0 2 2 24 1970–71 Los Angeles Kings NHL 4 1 3 4 2 — — — — — 1970–71 Springfield Indians AHL 60 9 23 32 94 12 2 10 12 17 1971–72 Los Angeles Kings NHL 39 2 3 5 35 — — — — — 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 29 3 12 15 6 — — — — — 1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 35 3 9 12 10 — — — — — 1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 10 0 3 3 12 — — — — — 1973–74 New York Islanders NHL 78 5 23 28 100 — — — — — 1974–75 New York Islanders NHL 73 9 24 33 59 15 2 4 6 9 1975–76 New York Islanders NHL 78 17 55 72 74 13 0 1 1 2 1976–77 New York Islanders NHL 79 10 36 46 26 11 0 4 4 6 1977–78 New York Islanders NHL 34 1 10 11 8 — — — — — 1977–78 Cleveland Barons NHL 40 3 14 17 30 — — — — — 1978–79 Minnesota North Stars NHL 64 5 16 21 65 — — — — — 1978–79 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 9 3 7 10 10 — — — — — 1979–80 New York Islanders NHL 32 2 13 15 26 — — — — — 1980–81 New York Islanders NHL 18 2 3 5 25 — — — — — NHL totals 613 63 224 287 478 39 2 9 11 17 Sources: