March 4, 2009

Pothier Sent to Hershey on Conditioning Stint

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have assigned former Rensselaer defenseman Brian Pothier to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hershey Bears on a conditioning stint, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Pothier, 31, is a third-year Capital who suffered a concussion Jan. 3, 2008, at Boston and missed the remainder of the season and all of this season. A veteran of seven NHL seasons, he has compiled 100 points (20 goals, 80 assists) in 292 career games. In his only full season with the Capitals, 2006-07, he led all club defensemen in points (28) and assists (25) and led the team in ice time (23:59 per game) while appearing in 72 games.

A 6’0”, 200-pound native of New Bedford, Mass., Pothier has appeared in 184 career AHL games, recording 114 points (25 goals, 89 assists). His last AHL appearance came during 2004-05, where he spent the entire season with the Binghamton Senators, recording 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 77 games.

Pothier was undrafted and signed with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2000-01 season. He signed as a free agent with the Capitals July 1, 2006.