The NYR Facts Of Life: #44 Corey Potter

For each player who suited up in a Blueshirt this season we will take the good, we will take the bad and take them both and see what we have. Today we turn our eye back to the blueline and gaze at poor #44, Corey Potter.

#44's #s: 3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, even, 2 PIM.

Take the good: Potter has been there when the Rangers called, jumped in the lineup and provided solid, if unspectacular defense. He makes smart, short plays to get the puck out of danger, he maintains good positioning and he isn't afraid to throw his body around when need be. After being a bit shakey in his debut this season against Nashville (playing less than eight minutes, taking a penalty and having a pair of giveaways), Potter bounced back and played nearly double the time next game against Tampa and got into the flow with a few hits. Then came the Olympic break and he lasted one quiet game after that before being bounced back to Hartford.

Take the bad: John Tortorella's warped sense of accountability allowed Rozy, Hobey, MDZ and Redden in the lineup for long stretches (if not the entire season) despite a multitude of defensive gaffes; the bad thing here is that Potter never truly got a chance despite that.

Take them both and then we have: A poised defender capable of playing 15-17 minutes a night on a third pairing. Of course that pairing is not likely to be in New York as - depending on which salary cap site you look at - Potter will be a RFA, a UFA or a Group VI UFA (I think it is Group VI as he is older than 25 and has played three AHL seasons) on July 1st and surely will look for opportunity elsewhere.