Getting To Know...Alexandre Picard!

Our second installment of "Getting To Know..." features one Alexandre Picard who came to Raleigh in exchange for the Hurricanes' version of Ol' Blue Eyes prior to the Olympic break. The 24 (almost 25) year old from Quebec was drafted by Philadelphia in 2003 and helped the Philadelphia Phantoms win the Calder Cup in 2005 (along with Creepie...err Joni Pitkanen) before his rookie season in 2006. Picard has bounced around the NHL quite a bit with stops in Tampa Bay and Ottawa before finding a home (at least temporarily) in Carolina.

Born in Gatineau, Picard has a younger brother and learned to love the game while watching his father coach on the weekends. He's also a bit of a mama's boy, at least when it comes to food, citing his mother's lasagna as his favorite meal.

Some random facts about our newest David Tanabe look-a-like:
*His best trait is patience and he values honesty in other people. Don't worry Alex-we're nothing but honest in Carolina.
*He never goes on the road without a good book.
*His first job was a soccer referee and he wanted to be a hockey player or sports journalist when he was little.
*He'd like to learn how to play the guitar and travel through Europe at some point.
*His worst subject in school? Math. Best subject? French.
*He was quote "probably nervous as hell" during his first date.

Picard has never been an offensive dynamo (his career high in goals is 1), but his 15 points and 11 assists put him at third and tied for second respectively among Sens' d-men before being traded in March. But he brings a young body that MoRonRowe can mold into the kind of player they want on the blueline.

So welcome to Raleigh Alex! Try the BBQ, check out a college basketball game (just don't pick a favorite), stay away from Tripp and never, ever watch game footage of A.Ward unless it's for laughs.

Getting To Know...Brian Pothier!

After the trade deadline, the Hurricanes have a few new faces rocking the red and black which means it's time to introduce our newest feature-"Getting To Know..."- where we will learn a little bit more about some of the newest members of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Our first spotlight falls on 32 year old defenseman Brian Pothier (who clearly knows his audience here at the Siren-yes I know, it's a little much and I did get it from the Scarlet Caps website, but somehow it seemed better than a picture of him with the Capitals' logo on his chest). Brian was born in the good ol' US of A (seems fitting he should replace another US born d-man of similar age eh?) and started his career in Atlanta after signing as an undrafted free agent in 1999. But if he thought that signing a contract meant the rough times were over, Pothier was sadly mistaken.

After a vicious hit from Milan Lucic in early 2008, Pothier would learn firsthand just how fragile health is and the temporary nature of a career in the NHL. The d-man's fourth concussion sidelined him for 14 agonizing months during which time he struggled both on and off the ice with dizziness and vertigo. In what must have been a mixture of relief and confusion, Pothier was eventually diagnosed as having an astigmatism that was causing the majority of his symptoms previously attributed to post concussion syndrome. After being fit for a new pair of glasses in, you guessed it, North Cackalacky, Pothier began his dramatic comeback with an eye on a return to the NHL.

"It was, he said, like a 'light bulb turned on, and I was good to go. I'm a full-blown dad again. I'm functioning great. It's just been a great progression on and off the ice. On the ice and then at home as a dad, a husband and a family guy, too.'"

In March of 2009, Pothier got just that. He re-entered the Capitals' lineup and earned a roster spot for the team's playoff run. He played 41 games for the Capitals and put up a respectable 11 points and was an impressive +12 from the blueline prior to being traded to Raleigh. His no nonsense attitude to press interviews may be a treat for those of us who are tired of the same old sports cliches. But his biggest contribution to the Hurricanes, or any team for that matter, may be the added perspective that one gets from struggling against and eventually overcoming adversity.

So I'd like to be the first (well probably like the 400th) person to welcome Brian Pothier to Raleigh! Hopefully his time here is filled with much success and lots of Stanley Cups! Hey a girl can dream can't she? I heard that we still weren't out of this thing entirely...