Two Family Affairs, Two Stars, Potvin And Schaefer

A look at Stan Fischler’s comparison between Islanders legend Denis Potvin and No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer — and how Matt Martin is playing the modern-day Jean Potvin role.

PHOTO: Dennis DaSilva /New York Islanders

By Stan Fischler:

Comparisons of Denis Potvin and Matthew Schaefer are inevitable.

Potvin has already gone down in National Hockey League history as one of the greatest defensemen of all-time -- if not THE greatest -- while Schaefer’s world-class skills suggest that the sky’s the limit in terms of Schaefer’s potential.

But behind the comparisons, there is, in fact, an interesting second comparison -- brotherly love.

To better understand The Maven’s point, we must look back to March 5, 1973, when a seemingly innocuous trade was made in the Islanders’ first season of operation. General Manager Bill Torrey traded forward Terry Crisp to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Jean Potvin.