What were Denis Potvin's weaknesses?

[Big Phil]

Yeah, no weakness, I'm calling it. I never thought Potvin was slow at all. Did he have blinding speed? No. But he could skate. I will agree that his skating if you HAD to pick what was the weakest of his attributes that it would be that.

I think it is really hard to maintain the level that Potvin had in the 1970s so that makes the 1980s not look as good. I will say this, he didn't get a lot of love in the Norris voting in the 1980s. He should have had higher finishes and probably even the Norris in 1981.

His thumb injury he had in 1980 he missed a lot of time and guess what, after the phenomenal seasons Bossy and Trottier (and Potvin too) had in 1979 there was a drop in production by them in 1980 because Potvin missed so much time. No coincidence. He was the "glue".

Put it this way, how good was he in his prime? Well, most will consider him to be ahead of Lidstrom at his best but in general many put Lidstrom ahead of him based on career and aging better. That's how good he was in my opinion. I don't think anyone passes up on a 1979 Potvin over anytime in Lidstrom's career.

 

[ozzie]

I think people are under estimating Potvin's first steps and getting into position. His top end speed wasn't that of Orr or Coffey, but he had a quickness to him and seemed to get where he needed to be easier than most. His game wasn't about skating end to end in blazing mad rushes.

If anything, I thought his weakness was sometimes being too physical or with a chip/edge, a bit like the later Chelios or Pronger. He enjoyed the perfect hit and hip check.

 

[Staniowski]

When Potvin was at his best, he was a very good skater. There is no doubt about that.

 

[brachyrynchos]

I guess Orr was onto something when he mentioned coaching and being free to roam with the puck and you guys are right about him being a good skater. I'm not sure if it sheds light on anything, but I did find this:
New York Times 11/20/85 Rob Finn. ' ...Potvin says all he had to do "was look in the mirror once to know I didn't have the skating ability of Bobby Orr and never would. I had to look to other players for inspiration. Otherwise I'd always be on the short side of things." Doug Harvey is the player Potvin mentions; "By watching him, I saw the importance of making the perfect pass, of moving the puck like you are in the midst of a beautifully orchestrated chess game."

I've never seen Harvey play and don't know much about him or if there's a comparison, and by no means am I implying that Potvin had to skate like Orr and Coffey, I just think he could've been faster on his skates. I suppose that between his style, Arbour's coaching, and the forwards up front maybe he didn't have to be the quickest?

 

[wetcoast]

I agree, his skating.

When he was young and at his best - in the '70s, especially in the first half of his 20s - his skating was very good. It was good enough to support his greatest strengths - his phenomenal vision, confidence, passing skills, hitting, point shot. I think he was the best player in the NHL in the 2nd half of the 1970s. But he lost a step at some point, and it affected his overall game. Even during the dynasty years he wasn't as good as he had been.

Agree with this his skating wasn't elite (it was still pretty good for the NHL level of the 75-85 NHL) but pretty much everything else was elite or close to it plus he had that hip check in his back pocket, just ask Bill Derlago.