Rangers Re-Sign Tom Poti

**Thrillhouse** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2005, 03:10 PM

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Tom Poti.

Poti, 28, did not play during the cancelled 2004-05 National Hockey League season. In 2003-04, he skated in 67 games for the Rangers, collecting 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points, along with 47 penalty minutes. His 10 goals and 24 points ranked second among all Rangers defensemen. He established new career-highs for assists and points in a single game, registering four assists on February 19 vs. the Islanders. Poti missed 15 games due to various injuries during the season.

During the 2002-03 season, he appeared in 80 matches with New York, registering 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points, along with 60 penalty minutes. He tied for seventh in the NHL and was first on the team in scoring among defensemen with 48 points. He also ranked first on the team with 37 assists and 21 power play points (three goals, 18 assists). Poti established new career-highs with 37 assists and 48 points and made the first NHL All-Star Game appearance of his career for the Eastern Conference on February 2 in Florida.

The 6-3, 215-pounder has skated in 443 career regular season contests with the Rangers and Edmonton Oilers, registering 49 goals and 136 assists for 185 points, along with 316 penalty minutes. During the 1998-99 season, Poti posted five goals and 16 assists for 21 points, along with 42 penalty minutes in 73 matches, leading to his selection to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Internationally, Poti has represented the United States in several tournaments, including the first Olympic appearance of his career at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. He appeared in six matches in Salt Lake City, registering one assist while helping the United States capture the silver medal. Poti also skated for Team USA at the 1996 and 1997 World Junior Championships.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Poti skated for the Boston University Terriers of the Hockey East (HE), registering 17 goals and 46 assists for 63 points, along with 114 penalty minutes in 76 games. He was selected to the NCAA East First All-American Team and named a Hockey East First Team All-Star in 1997-98.

The native of Worcester, Massachusetts was originally Edmonton’s fourth round choice, 59th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Rangers from Edmonton Oilers on March 19, 2002, along with Rem Murray, in exchange for Mike York and a fourth round draft choice in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (Ivan Koltsov).