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.

Corey's Comin' Back

Earlier today the Rangers re-signed defenseman Corey Potter. I said it several times last season: Potter looked composed, poised with the puck and intelligent out on the ice. Tom Renney didn't trust him but Renney was a fool who got fired. He didn't hold Redden and Rozsival and Kalinin accountable and that kept Potter from getting a fair shot. The Michigan State alum proved he play in the NHL during last season's cup of coffee and hopefully Sather will stop this nonsense about signing more blueliners and give him a real chance to make it.

Another Mistake

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that defenseman Corey Potter has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

John Tortorella missed a fantastic opportunity to send a message to his team. With Rozy returning, Tortorella should have kept Corey Potter in the lineup and benched Wade Redden. A move that bold in a run for the playoffs would have sent a message that half-assed, incompetent play will not be accepted - from rookies or from veterans. Rozy would have stepped right into Redden's roll of doing nothing during the power play and playing a soft defensive game while Potter would be rewarded for his solid play so far. The kid has not been half the defensive liability that Redden was and he scored a goal in just his fifth game. Redden has three goals in 77 games despite being an "offensive defenseman."

This is just another disappointment in a season full of them that could very well result in an early summer. For shame Torts, I thought you were better than this.