Tom Poti

Tom Poti
Born	March 22, 1977 (1977-03-22) Worcester, MA, USA
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Washington Capitals Edmonton Oilers New York Rangers New York Islanders
National team	United States
NHL Draft	59th overall, 1996 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	1998–present

Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
Silver	2002 Salt Lake City	Ice hockey

Thomas Emilio Poti (born March 22, 1977) is an ice hockey defenseman for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He attended Saint Peter-Marian High School for two years. A graduate of the Cushing Academy, Poti moved on to play for Boston University of Hockey East. At BU Poti became the first defenseman since Dave Archambault to win the Beanpot MVP. Poti was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, 59th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.

On March 19, 2002, the Rangers acquired Poti and Rem Murray in exchange for Mike York and a fourth round selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Poti was the point man on New York's top power-play unit until Fedor Tyutin took over. During his time with the Rangers, Poti became unpopular with his team's fans, to the point that he was booed at home whenever he touched the puck and cheered when he left the ice for a player change.

In the summer of 2006 Poti signed as a free agent with the Rangers' crosstown rival New York Islanders. He continued to hear choruses of boos when he touched the puck at Madison Square Garden.

On July 1, 2007, Poti signed a four-year deal with the Washington Capitals worth $3.5 million per year.

Poti won his first playoff series with the Washington Capitals when they eliminated the Rangers in 7 games on 28 April 2009.

Poti suffers from severe food allergies. Contact with such foods as chocolate, peanuts, and Monosodium glutamate can be potentially lethal. Poti carries an EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector at all times.

Despite growing up in Massachusetts, home of the Boston Red Sox, Poti is a fan of the New York Yankees.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	Boston University	NCAA		38	4	17	21	54		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Boston University	NCAA		38	13	29	42	60		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		73	5	16	21	42		4	0	1	1	2
1999–00	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		76	9	26	35	65		5	0	1	1	0
2000–01	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		81	12	20	32	60		6	0	2	2	2
2001–02	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		55	1	16	17	32		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	New York Rangers	NHL		11	1	7	8	2		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	New York Rangers	NHL		80	11	37	48	58		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	New York Rangers	NHL		67	10	14	24	47		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	New York Rangers	NHL		73	3	20	23	70		4	0	0	0	2
2006–07	New York Islanders	NHL		78	6	38	44	74		5	0	3	3	6
2007–08	Washington Capitals	NHL		71	2	27	29	46		7	0	1	1	8
2008–09	Washington Capitals	NHL		52	3	10	13	28		14	2	5	7	4
2009–10	Washington Capitals	NHL		70	4	20	24	42		6	0	4	4	5
2010–11	Washington Capitals	NHL		21	2	5	7	8		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				808	69	256	325	586		51	2	17	19	29

Awards

• Named to NHL All-Rookie Team in 1999.

External links

• Player Page - Washington Capitals
• Tom Poti's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database