Denis Potvin Debuts 'Potvin Socks'

Denis Potvin has heard the "Potvin Sucks" chants for 43 years, but now, the shoe is on the other foot.
Well, sock actually.
The Islanders' legend is coming out with a line of "Potvin Socks," a custom sock line taking ownership of the infamous chant.

"You've been chanting my name for 43 years, now you can wear it," Potvin said.
The Potvin Socks will be available at the
Isles Lab Team Store
, as well as
PotvinSocks.com
. There are two designs currently - a flaming puck and a hip check - with more expected on the way, and the socks come in navy, white and orange colors. There is also a hat line with hats in blue, black and white fashions. Ten percent of proceeds from the socks go to the Islanders Children's Foundation.

The "Potvin Sucks" chant originated in the aftermath of Potvin's hit on Rangers center Ulf Nilsson on Feb. 25, 1979. It was a clean hit, but Nilsson's skate got caught in a rut, breaking his ankle, and sidelining him for months. What originated as a chant directly aimed at Potvin when he touched the puck has since become ubiquitous at Madison Square Garden, chanted at games and concerts, regardless of whether the Islanders are playing.
Initially, it bothered Potvin, but he's come to find the humor and bright side in the longstanding chant. Potvin just laughed when he heard the band Phish said it during a concert at MSG.
"By the time we got to 2010 it was kind of fun," Potvin said. "There's a whole new generation so I'm taking it kind of like handing over an olive branch. It's kind of saying, hey, this has been great, you've kept my name alive over these years. Potvin socks seems to make sense."

Potvin mulled the idea of producing Potvin socks for about 10 years now, so he's excited for the product to finally be on the shelves of Isles Lab - and it's fitting that the socks will debut in stores when the
Islanders take on the New York Rangers at UBS Arena on Oct. 26
. The Islanders legend will be on hand at the game to meet with fans by the Isles Lab team store from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Armed with some stylish socks and a good sense of humor, Potvin is proud to take ownership over the chant, and he's hoping to give Islanders fans a wearable rebuttal.
"The whole motivation of it is having fun," Potvin said. "And the idea of Potvin socks is everybody gets it right away. It's meant to be a lot of fun."