1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 10 Denis Potvin Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 10 Denis Potvin Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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The recipient of the 1976 Norris Trophy as the outstanding defenseman in the NHL, he was named to Second Team 1976-77 All-Star Team of the league. Established Islanders’ single season scoring record with 98 total points during 1975-76.
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Gagnant du Trophée Norris en 1976 en tant que meilleur défenseur de la ligue, il fit partie de la deuxième équipe d’étoiles en 1977. Denis établit un record chez les Islanders en produisant 98 points durant 1975-76.
Details
Denis Potvin did win the Norris Trophy for the first of three times in 1975-76. He would also be named the NHL’s top blue liner in 1977-78 and 1978-79. In 1976-77, he was third in Norris voting with Larry Robinson beating out Borje Salming in a tight race at the top.
The 31 goals Potvin scored in 1975-76 would stand as a career high. However, in 1978-79, he would put in a career best 101 points. Just six defenseman have topped 100 points in a single NHL season. The others include Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Brian Leetch and Erik Karlsson.
His performance with the New York Islanders was not unexpected. Denis won consecutive Max Kaminsky Trophies with the Ottawa 67’s in 1971-72 and 1972-73 as the OHL’s top defender. This made it easy for the Islanders to take Potvin first overall at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft. He made an immediate impact, winning the Calder Trophy in 1973-74 as rookie of the year.
Between 1973-74 and 1987-88, Denis Potvin appeared in 1,060 regular season and 185 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Islanders. He helped the club to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.