Pothier from Washington for Corvo

[Jay]

Per TSN, Corvo to Capitals for Pothier and a prospect... Oscar-something.

[puck_it]

WHOA! off the radar!

[Jay]

Brian Pothier(D) + Oscar Osala(F) for Corvo... Oscar is apparently some prospect kid.

[Alicia]

NOOOOOO!!! :(

[aldamon]

Oscar Osala(F)...Oscar is apparently some prospect kid.

Another Finn!

[ChickenParm]

This is a nice pickup. Pothier is a solid, no-nonsense defenseman with strong passing skills. I've watched him develop since his college days and he'll be an asset to the blueline.

[puck_it]

I like this trade.

I'm sure Corvo is sad about going to a contender.

[cmw00]

Sounds like another good deal to me!

[BrooklynCaniac]

Is he under contract for next season? Whats the cap hit?

[msgtcody]

Looks like Washington chose to load up on goal scoring potential and not go after a goaltender.

[nccanes]

Doesn't Joe own 2 houses here? I feel bad for Emo Joe, but he's got Walker at least.

[puck_it]

why would he have two houses?

[ChickenParm]

PLUS we got a second rounder. Score!

[Alicia]

Doesn't Joe own 2 houses here? I feel bad for Emo Joe, but he's got Walker at least.
Makes my location ^ relevant...

[msgtcody]

Canes also get Washingtons 2nd rounder

[puck_it]

plus a 2nd rounder per mckenzie.

[msgtcody]

that was a sweet trade.

[c-girl]

They do have two houses here - a relatively small house (for a hockey player) that they bought within 2 weeks of being traded here and a larger one they built later.

[WillLikeWhoa091]

Corvo and Walker can hang out now!

And holy crap! Pothier / Prospect / 2nd Rounder?!

GREAT deal.

[puck_it]

yeah, ill concur on sweetness if we do indeed have a 2nd + Pothier + Prospect

[nccanes]

why would he have two houses?

Don't ask me - read the tax records. :lol:

[ChickenParm]

Osala is 15-14--29 and even in 53 games with Hershey this season.

[caneshockeychick]

Nice Deal!!!

Yeah...I'll miss Jose Corvo and his shot from the point though :(

[nccanes]

Nice Deal!!!

Yeah...I'll miss Jose Corvo and his shot from the point though :(

THe ones that hit the boards 3 feet wide? ;)

Just kidding -- it was nice when it worked.

[puck_it]

e, it's more like 5 feet.

[caneshockeychick]

THe ones that hit the boards 3 feet wide? ;)

Just kidding -- it was nice when it worked.

Sorry...I guess I'll just always remember that hatter he had against his former team when he first got here. Plus the look on his face the day he and Eaves arrived and came to HT and I said Welcome to Raleigh.

and yes...when it worked...it worked.

Oh well.

[nccanes]

So can I presume Pothier is an offsetting impending UFA?

edit: answer is yes....now all that stuff coming back makes sense.

[Jay]

So can I presume Pothier is an offsetting impending UFA?

That's my guess. It'll be nice enough to see him in Red and White for a while though, he's a good guy.

[Kahz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gl_jZ73jGo&feature=player_embedded

Interview with Osala from 2008. At 5:40 he says the player he admires and tries to emulate is Erik Cole.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

And Pothier was playing on the 2nd D-man pairing. And he is a UFA at the end of the season. So we free salary, get a rental for the rest of the year. If the 2nd is true, I like it.

[puck_it]

Interview with Osala from 2008. At 5:40 he says the player he admires and tries to emulate is Erik Cole.

Just what we need. Cole, Ruutu, and Osala all falling down flailing on the ice.

[aldamon]

Just what we need. Cole, Ruutu, and Osala all falling down flailing on the ice.

Bowling pin line.

[nccanes]

Bowling pin line.

:lol:

Maybe they can work hard and move up to the Weebles (wobble, but they don't fall down) line. :laugh:;)

[livinthedream]

I'm hearing the second rounder is 2011, not 2010.

ETA: Their 2010 second rounder was traded for Belanger.

And Osala is one big Finn. 6'4/220 or thereabouts I think.

Just what we need. Cole, Ruutu, and Osala all falling down flailing on the ice.

Why you gotta hate?

:lol:

[caneshockeychick]

I'm hearing the second rounder is 2011, not 2010.

Yep...that's what I'm hearing too.

[puck_it]

I'm hearing the second rounder is 2011, not 2010.

minn recieved the 2nd rounder in 2010 for belanger.

[msgtcody]

We're just working on being the most popular team in Finland next year. You never know though you get someone like Osala in this environment where he can talk with other Fins, hang out. Sometimes that helps people flourish.

[KaniacFever]

I liked Joe even though he was kind of Emo. He was like Eeryoe, couldn't help but like him. Atleast he and Walker will have each other.

I do like getting another Finn though.

[Captain Slack]

Figured Joe would be on the move, but didn't think it would be to a division rival. Overall, I like this deal. I remember Pothier when he played for Ottawa. He's a solid player.

[Fghtr4jc]

My first reaction to this trade was "when did we become so friendly with WSH?"

Now all I'm wondering is how many 2nd rounders we have over the next two years.

[livinthedream]

So which Cap cut Emo Joe? I can't remember. Is he still on the team?

I'm not happy to lose Joe. But I felt it was inevitable. :(

As with Scotty, I'm glad he has a chance to go far in the post-season.

[Kahz]

So which Cap cut Emo Joe? I can't remember. Is he still on the team?Alzner. He's currently in the AHL.

[SoCalcaniac]

Today is that day, the bittersweet day-- I like Joe. Headcase, wide shots, lack of confidence at times and all, I liked him as a a player. I think he really liked it here. But this is what happens when contracts expire, a team underachieves etc.

I'll remember meeting Joe at the Jimmy V, and how easy going he was; yet very intense about his golf game, lol. That and how animated (for Joe) he got when Canesluver asked about his tatoos. :lol:

Gotta give it to the GM, he's got the wheeler dealer gene going. Roster players and a 2nd rounder is GOOD. Osala has 15 goals in Hershey this year. He might be a decent depth player -- bowling pin line or not. :lol:

[msgtcody]

Pierre LeBrun says the Flyers were also after Corvo but couldn't work it out. Guessing they weren't offering as much just always curious what else could have happened.

[KRAZYCANE05]

JR called me asked if I was willing to be traded to Leafs. They are in need of fans to fill the seats.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

First Cullen, now Corvo....thank god Timmy didn't go...that would have been all three favorites.

Seems like an OK return. I personally would like to see us re-sign Joe in the off-season.

Sorry I can't pull for you in the post-season, Joe.

Sorry...I guess I'll just always remember that hatter he had against his former team when he first got here.

And that goal against the Panthers where he undressed their entire team prior to putting it in the net.

[SoCalcaniac]

I think in JR's comments on 99.9 him alluding to "never closing a door on players" and "who knows we could see one or two of these guys back here" could mean Corvo would come back. Joe revived himself here. I have a feeling that we'll see him back.

One of the best goals ever--- Joe vs the Florida Panthers. EPIC.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

If we could just re-sign Corvo and Cullen I'd be super happy.....emotionally, anyway....not sure how the team would do.:lol:

[KaniacFever]

We are going to need a top 4 defensemen with only having Gleason and Pitkanen signed. Depending on how Picard does to the end season will depend if we need 1 or 2 top 4. I can definetly see Rutherford bringing Corvo back.

[Scottysfistofdeath]

I would love to see Joe come back, NHL d-man, prospect (a Finn!) and a future second rounder seems like a pretty good return for Joe.

Plus, it'd make me enjoying Washington having a terrible season next year even more! I hope Joe isn't too mad because every time he got a shot at Ottawa it was something to see- those revenge games were fun to watch. Sad to see Joe go but this seems to be a good haul for him so I'll enjoy that.

[KaniacFever]

This Oskar Finn kid was very high with the Caps fans. They aren't too thrilled with trading him. Sounds like he's a power forward, good speed and good shot. Needs to work on the defensive side of the game though.

Guess you could say he has the potential to be a pre-neck injury Cole.

[livinthedream]

Did we mention HE'S A FINN

I believe that puts ahead of all the other teams in terms of pure SISU.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l83/kellja00/smilies/Finland_Flag.gif

[livinthedream]

AHL.com chat transcript with O2 (http://theahl.com/chat-transcript-oskar-osala-p132192)

I notice in the photo he's wearing the same number as The Untouchable Jussi Jokinen. Also, he was invited to Team Finland's Olympic camp over the summer so he's at least met his fellow Finns.

[msgtcody]

Oskar Osala also drops the gloves from time to time. Can't say hes going to knock anyone out but he can stick up for himself which is nice to see. I have a good feeling hes going to work out here with our group of Finns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJNfHNPctps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gplujutCIQE

hes even fought our buddy wade brookbank but uhhh not going to post that link.

[DaveG]

Call me crazy, I think we haven't seen the last of Corvo in the sightless eye. I'd put good money on him being back on our roster next year if I were a betting man.

The real prize of this trade is Osala though. If he can find his consistency he could turn out to be a pre-injury Cole. That's a huge addition to this roster in the long term. I wouldn't look for him to be on the roster this coming season but give him one more year in the AHL and I think he'll be ready. Would be ironic if he were to take the place of the guy he idolizes on the roster.

Pretty good deadline on the whole for us. Corvo was the unexpected trade but we got a lot of assets for players we didn't really need today.

[SoCalcaniac]

You're not crazy Dave. We've already talked about a potential Joe coming back to Raleigh thing. It's very possible.

and why am I not surprised LTD has gathered all the Fun Finn Facts for our review and information? ;):lol: I do think you're right though girlie, if we can get Osala up with the big club in the near future, we'd be Finn Central.

[andyt]

To be absolutely and brutally honest, the only guy we've traded in the last 3 weeks that I want to see back here is Cullen. Loved Corvo's shot, hated his defensive lapses, hated his "woe is me" attitude even more. Too manic depressive for me.

But WTF do I know, I'm a beancounter, not a shrink.

[Convert]

To be absolutely and brutally honest, the only guy we've traded in the last 3 weeks that I want to see back here is Cullen. Loved Corvo's shot, hated his defensive lapses, hated his "woe is me" attitude even more. Too manic depressive for me.

But WTF do I know, I'm a beancounter, not a shrink.

I'm with you.....

[Solracer]

This is why I would like Corvo Back.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7Xu1JylEU&feature=fvsr

We don't have too many Carolina Players who can do that.. much less a defensman.

[puck_it]

but we've got a guy who can do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAGEjNtZAKU

[Scottysfistofdeath]

thanks for the vid... that was a REALLY nice memory, took a friend who hadn't been to any games in a while, safe to say he enjoyed it

[NCCaniac42]

but we've got a guy who can do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAGEjNtZAKU

And Sutter going "WOW" after watching the replay.. What a night that was!!! Glad #13 will still be in the house. Maybe me wearing my Ray t-shirt yesterday helped?? :lol:

[rosey12]

Sad to see Joe go, but like several others have said - it wouldn't surprise me to see him back next year. And that would make me quite happy. :)

Should we feel honored that Washington apparently wanted to raid our roster? :lol:

[nccanes]

I swear - of all the guys we've traded around (to or from) I do feel bad for Pothier. Sounds like he's a good guy I'm sure he was pretty dejected...

From Garrioch:

Bidding or ‘Begging’

At the morning skate, former Senator D-man Brian Pothier was his usual upbeat self despite being traded from the No. 1 team in the league to a cellar-dweller — and getting only an hour sleep after driving all night from Washington to Carolina. “It’s exciting to play on a team that’s vying for the Presidents’ Trophy, but ... (it’s) is a good opportunity to come to an exciting young team and try to contribute.” Pothier still carries a dry wit, too. Working on the final months of a multi-year contract, it was mentioned the bidding for his services will begin soon. “More like the begging,” he said, meaning his own.

[SoCalcaniac]

Thanks for posting E. I thought about Pothier's situation when we traded for him, and then yesterday while watching the guys at the morning skate. They were in a huddle with The Coach just before the skate broke up, and you could sorta hear The Coach direct the guys to help Pothier as he gets adjusted to being here, etc. and guys doing a hockey player welcome with little stick taps in his direction.

So when they broke it up, I noticed he was chatting with #6, then kinda skating around, and he seemed a little drained/shell shocked etc. and I really thought about the whole I was just on the 1st place team and now....UGH. You do have to feel bad for the guy. He probably hasn't even had a chance to decompress and really think about it.

[ontheboards]

My thought last night was that we must have a jones for former Ottawa Sens defensemen-- Gleason, Corvo, Picard and now Pothier. Don't know if Marshall Johnston influenced all these pick ups or just Gleason's trade.

The only real concern with Pothier has been his concussion history-- pretty significant and pretty scarry (out like 60 games or something), which was speculated as to one reason why he was traded.

[nccanes]

Not until you posted this did I recall that I'd posted a link to an ESPN Mag article about the concussion issue in the NHL and that Pothier was mentioned specifically.

http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/showpost.php?p=547544&postcount=620

He's the player that ended up at the same Eye Dr/therapist here in Cary that Cullen used following his.

The link is only part of the article since it's a subscription. The Pothier stuff isn't in the part at ESPN.com though. But my recollection from the print edition was that it was AWFUL.

[SoCalcaniac]

That is SO funny E. On trade deadline day, the first thing I said to Mr. Socal was "isn't Pothier the dude who had all that vision stuff, and he came down here to get treatment from Cullen's doc in Cary?" He says "who remembers stuff like that???"

I was gonna go surfing around for the article, because I knew we had discussed it here, and I got completely sidetracked. :lol:

He's come a long way for sure; he wasn't even sure he'd play again.

[c-girl]

Chip has a great article in the paper this morning about Pothier, Cullen, their vision problems, and the local doctor who cured them.


http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/06/372944/pothiers-path-linked-to-triangle.html


RALEIGH -- Brian Pothier spent most of 2008 wondering if his hockey career was over.

A two-hour session with a Raleigh optometrist helped save it, he said, but that's getting a little ahead of the story.

Pothier and Matt Cullen were on the ice Thursday night at the RBC Center. Pothier now plays for the Carolina Hurricanes and Cullen for the Ottawa Senators, the result of recent trades, but that Pothier has been able to see his way back into the NHL, back into hockey, has a lot to do with Cullen.

<SCRIPT><!--if(miyahoo.ads[mi_live_or_preview].yahoo.enabled){yld_mgr.place_ad_here("slot_2");}--></SCRIPT>
Late in 2008, Pothier feared the worst. Then with the Washington Capitals, the defenseman had been slammed into the boards by Boston Bruins bruiser Milan Lucic, jerking his head and neck and causing a concussion in a game early that year.

As weeks and then months passed, Pothier wasn't able to recover from persistent headaches, fatigue and disorientation. He paraded from doctor to doctor, underwent nearly every medical test, and nothing helped. "They were wild symptoms, not the typical concussion stuff," he said. "We saw every specialist you can think of ... anything and everything. Johns Hopkins, Colorado, we went everywhere.

"I had no idea what was going on. At that point, it had been 11 months and I didn't know what was going to happen."

And then he heard about Cullen.

Cullen, playing for the Hurricanes, was knocked unconscious on a blindside hit by Colton Orr of the New York Rangers in a Dec. 26, 2007 game. He experienced recurring vision problems that kept him off the ice, robbing him of games and causing the same career anxiety.

But among the doctors Cullen consulted was Susan Durham, an optometrist with offices in Cary and Raleigh, and the forward soon was back on the ice.

"It's a pretty scary thing, but it was one of those things where your vision gets changed just a little bit and everything is fine again," Cullen said Thursday. "Things were a little blurry, but it was something as simple as adjusting your contacts and going through some exercises for your eyes."
Caps trainer Greg Smith had worked with Cullen when the two were with the Anaheim Ducks, and Smith told Pothier about Cullen's work with Durham.

"We'd seen everybody else," Pothier said. "Why not? Couldn't hurt."
While in Raleigh for a game in early December, Pothier spent two hours with Durham. But as quickly as he could slip into a pair of glasses and go to a computer screen for tests, he realized he might have found an answer.

"I put the glasses on and it changed the game for me," he said. "Everything had been gray and vague and pixel-ly and blurry. She put a pair of glasses on me, and it just tightened right up.

"It gave my eyes a chance to rest. Pretty much the next day I was starting to get on the bike and a few days later on the ice."

It turned out that a previously undiagnosed astigmatism, an abnormal curve of the cornea that causes out-of-focus vision - and not the concussion - was causing his ongoing symptoms. Not that Pothier was back in the lineup that fast. Visual therapy sessions - coordination drills, computer programs - continued with Dr. Paul Harris in Baltimore. Pothier finally was able to rejoin the Caps in March 2009 after a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League.

Durham said Pothier, 32, suffered from a "mismatch" from the input he was getting from his vestibular system, which governs balance and movement, and his vision. In short, his brain was unable to quickly process what his eyes were seeing, which caused a loss of balance and a lack of coordination.

"Brian said he couldn't push his kids on a swing, that it would make him sick, that he couldn't get on a treadmill," Durham said. "Bottom line: He needed vision therapy to fix the mismatch.

"I'm so happy for him. He was having issues with his career, with his passion for the game, and it was affecting his family life. He wasn't able to be a dad with his boys. He needed help to get his normal state back."
Earlier this season, Pothier gave Durham an autographed Caps jersey to hang in her office. Then, on Wednesday, Durham said she got a call from her husband.

"He said, 'Guess who just got traded to the Hurricanes?' " she said.
Pothier came to the Canes in the deal that sent defenseman Joe Corvo to the Caps. On Thursday, he and Cullen - traded to Ottawa on Feb. 12 - were on the ice and Durham in the RBC Center stands as the Canes won 4-1. Cullen scored a goal and Pothier played well in his first game with his new team.

"I'm getting to the point where I won't have to ever wear glasses again," Pothier said. "Right now, I'm close."

[nccanes]

That was a such a nice article. How cute that the Eye Drs. husband called to say "guess who...".

[KaniacFever]

Nice story, thanks for posting. Really shows what these guys through with concussions and all the vision problems. You wouldn't really think a concussion could affect you pushing your child on a swing. Really puts things in perspective.

[DSCanesfan]

Nice story, thanks for posting. Really shows what these guys through with concussions and all the vision problems. You wouldn't really think a concussion could affect you pushing your child on a swing. Really puts things in perspective.


You know its kind of funny, in an odd way not funny haha. Because when I got my 1st concussion back in 1981, wrestling for Millbrook High, after I was cleared to wrestle again I noticed a difference in my vision. I can't remember if it was my 1st match back or shortly there after, but we were wrestling Gov. Morehead School for the Blind and I looked over at the scoreboard and couldn't see the score. I asked one of the guys on my team what the score was. He said that's not funny Doug. But before my concussion I didn't have vision problems. But I've been wearing glasses since. I did ask my dr about it at the time and he didn't seem to think they were related. But after reading that article it just makes you go hmmmmmmm.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

It makes me wonder, too, how many NHL players whose careers have been cut short by concussions might still be playing had they had their contacts adjusted.


BTW, anyone else realize Cullen wore contacts?

[livinthedream]

As someone who has wonky vision problems myself, I can appreciate what poorly-corrected vision can do to a person, though luckily never to the extent these guys experienced.

I thought Pothier played pretty well for us the other night.

[puck_it]

You know its kind of funny, in an odd way not funny haha. Because when I got my 1st concussion back in 1981, wrestling for Millbrook High, after I was cleared to wrestle again I noticed a difference in my vision. I can't remember if it was my 1st match back or shortly there after, but we were wrestling Gov. Morehead School for the Blind and I looked over at the scoreboard and couldn't see the score. I asked one of the guys on my team what the score was. He said that's not funny Doug. But before my concussion I didn't have vision problems. But I've been wearing glasses since. I did ask my dr about it at the time and he didn't seem to think they were related. But after reading that article it just makes you go hmmmmmmm.

makes me wonder if, like pothier, you can get un glasses-ed.