Pothier continues 'new adventure'

WASHINGTON -- For Brian Pothier, the last week has been little more than a blur.

A week ago today, Pothier woke up as a member of the Washington Capitals. By mid-afternoon, the defenseman had been traded to the Hurricanes. A day later, he was wearing No. 5 and in the Canes' lineup against the Ottawa Senators at the RBC Center, then flying off to play the Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers.

Tonight, it comes back full swing, so to speak. He'll be back on the Verizon Center ice with the Caps, but looking to beat the Caps.

"You're on a team, you're in a community, your kids are in school, you have a house, everything is normal," Pothier said after today's morning skate at the Verizon Center. "Then, in 10 seconds, you get the news you're not going to be there anymore.

"It's an upheaval and your world is out of control, a little bit. But you just find a way to deal with it. It's part of the game. We all understand it. Most of us have been through it.

"Things were great here. I spent four years here and have a lot of great friends and great memories here. But it's sort of a new adventure for me."

Pothier, in essence, traded places with defenseman Joe Corvo, who was traded to the Caps in the deal that brought Pothier, prospect Oskar Osala and a second-round draft pick to Carolina just before the Wednesday trade deadline.

"He's very smart, moves the puck efficiently," Canes coach Paul Maurice said of Pothier, who has been used at the point on the power play. "He gives us good veteran stability back there. He's been very solid for us.

In his three games with the Canes, Pothier often has been paired with Tim Gleason on defense and often is matched against the other team's best forwards. Tonight, that will mean the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Niklas Backstrom.

"I've watched them play many nights, and it should be interesting to play against them," Pothier said, smiling. "Those guys are so unpredictable, they really are. I'll just try to keep them to the outside.

"But it will be awkward coming in here tonight. It will be weird."

Pothier, 32, was able to stay with his wife and kids Tuesday night. He said his wife will visit him often in Raleigh as the season winds down.

For now, he's living at the Residence Inn in Raleigh. He's playing for a team that has been winning but is straining to make the playoffs, not one at the top of the Eastern Conference.

"The guys have been great to me, just phenomenal," Pothier said of his new teammates. "And the coaching staff. From the day I walked in, it has been that way.

"We've got a chance to do something special."