Tom Poti

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
team = Washington Capitals
former_teams = Edmonton Oilers
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
league = NHL
position = Defense
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 202
nickname =
nationality = USA
birth_date = March 1977
birth_place = Worcester, MA, U.S.
draft = 59th overall
draft_year = 1996
draft_team = Edmonton Oilers
career_start = 1998

Thomas Poti (born March 22, 1977 in Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.) is a NHL defenseman for the Washington Capitals. 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. [ [http://www.nysportsexpress.com/1/21/departments/NHL.cfm nysportsexpress.com ] ] [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/07/08/poti-islanders.html Islanders lure Poti ] ]

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 touches 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 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. [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/NYIslanders/2006/09/06/1807241-ca.html CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - NY Islanders - Allergies drove Poti into hockey ] ] [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=288915 Isles' Poti has learned to live with severe allergies]

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

Career statistics

Awards

*Named to NHL All-Rookie Team in 1998.

External links

* [http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app?nhlLink=true&page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8465012&service=page&tab=prf Player Page - Washington Capitals]
*hockeydb|19341

References