The Washington, D.C. chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association nominated Pothier. He is one of 30 NHL players up for the award, one nominee from each team, and stands a solid chance of winning after an arduous year away from the sport because of a serious concussion.

Pothier, 31, was originally injured on Jan. 3, 2008, on a hit by Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic. Post-concussion symptoms forced him to miss the rest of the season. But Pothier’s ordeal was just beginning. An injury to the fourth cranial nerve caused an undiagnosed astigmatism in his right eye. That led to balance issues, blurred vision, nausea and headaches. Running up the stairs or even just playing with his two sons sometimes left Pothier bedridden last spring and summer.

“It was just a matter of having a goal and staying focused on it,” Pothier said. “We were trying to figure stuff out along the road. It’s not what happens to you it’s how you react to it. The last few year’s my faith has grown.”

Pothier finally received the astigmatism diagnosis in late November. Fitted with special glasses and doing eye exercises, his balance returned. After three months working back into shape and gradually taking part in practices with the Caps, Pothier was sent to AHL Hershey for a four-game rehab assignment. He finally returned to the NHL on March 16 vs. Atlanta and scored his first goal last Friday vs. Tampa Bay. 

“You sort of do take it for granted. Because we all get frustrated when we don’t perform like we should,” Pothier said. “In the past you kind of mope around and pout about those things. You’re whole world is centered around hockey. When you take that away for a year the perspective changes quite a bit. I hope I don’t return to that any time soon.”