Potvin's rookie season was one of the best by a goalie in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
The Maple Leafs selected Potvin in the second round (No. 31) of the 1990 NHL Draft after his second season with Chicoutimi of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He played one more season of junior hockey, then was named the top rookie and top goalie in the American Hockey League for St. John's in 1991-92.
Potvin's rookie season was one of the best by a goalie in Toronto Maple Leafs history.
The Maple Leafs selected Potvin in the second round (No. 31) of the 1990 NHL Draft after his second season with Chicoutimi of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He played one more season of junior hockey, then was named the top rookie and top goalie in the American Hockey League for St. John's in 1991-92.
Potvin made his NHL debut Nov. 14, 1991, against the Chicago Blackhawks, but it wasn't until 1992-93 that he established himself as an NHL starter. The 21-year-old led the NHL with a 2.50 goals-against average and finished 25-15 with seven ties and a .910 save percentage. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Potvin helped the Maple Leafs get within one victory of the Stanley Cup Final before losing Game 7 of the Campbell Conference Final to the Los Angeles Kings.
He won an NHL career-high 34 games in 1993-94, helping the Maple Leafs return to the conference final, this time losing to the Vancouver Canucks in five games. Potvin was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1994 and 1996, but as the Maple Leafs began to fade the next few seasons, Potvin's numbers deteriorated, and he was traded to the New York Islanders on Jan. 9, 1999.
Potvin lasted less than a season with the Islanders before being traded to the Canucks on Dec. 19, 1999, and the Canucks traded him to the Kings on Feb. 15, 2001.
The trade appeared to reinvigorate Potvin. He went 13-5 with five ties after the trade, then helped the Kings upset the Detroit Red Wings in the conference quarterfinals -- their only postseason series win between 1993 and 2012 -- before they lost to the eventual-champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the next round.
Potvin won 31 games in 2001-02, his highest total since 1995-96, but he dropped to 17 in 2002-03, and the Kings didn't re-sign him. He signed with the Boston Bruins for the 2003-04 season and went 12-8 with six ties and a 2.50 GAA in 2003-04 as the backup to Calder Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft.
Potvin didn't play again after the 2004-05 NHL lockout, finishing his career 266-260 with 85 ties, a 2.76 GAA, .905 save percentage and 32 shutouts. In the playoffs, he was 35-37 with a 2.64 GAA, .910 save percentage and eight shutouts.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- QMJHL All-Rookie Team (1989)
- QMJHL Second All-Star Team (1990)
- QMJHL First All-Star Team (1991)
- Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of the Year (1991)
- Memorial Cup All-Star Team (1991)
- Hap Emms Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup Top Goaltender) (1991)
- AHL First All-Star Team (1992)
- Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (Rookie of the Year - AHL) (1992)
- Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award (Outstanding Goaltender - AHL) (1992)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (1993)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (1994, 1996)
- Traded to NY Islanders by Toronto with Toronto's 6th round pick (later traded to Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay selected Fedor Fedorov) in 1999 NHL Draft for Bryan Berard and NY Islanders' 6th round pick (Jan Sochor) in 1999 NHL Draft, January 9, 1999.
- Traded to Vancouver by NY Islanders with NY Islanders' 2nd round compensatory pick (later traded to New Jersey, New Jersey selected Teemu Laine) in 2000 NHL Draft and NY Islanders' 3rd round pick (Thatcher Bell) in 2000 NHL Draft for Kevin Weekes, Dave Scatchard and Bill Muckalt, December 19, 1999.
- Traded to Los Angeles by Vancouver for future considerations, February 15, 2001.
- Signed as a free agent by Boston, September 3, 2003.