He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and served as a commentator for Ottawa Senators' television broadcasts on Sportsnet.

Pollock's strategy was to offer a "quick-fix" package of mature players to exchange for the top draft pick.

[2] Potvin entered the NHL with high expectations; some regarded him as the savior of the Islanders' franchise, and by others as potentially the next Bobby Orr.

That year he finished second to Bobby Clarke in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

Upon Orr's decline and retirement in the late 1970s, Potvin became widely acknowledged (along with Larry Robinson) as the premier defenceman in the game.

In Potvin's best season, 1978–79, the talented but young Islanders ultimately lost in the semi-finals of the 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs to the New York Rangers in six games, despite being heavily favoured to win the series.

In the 1983–84 season, Potvin made a comeback of sorts, scoring 85 points and making the NHL's second all-star team.

Late in his career, Potvin suffered a series of injuries that impeded his performance, leading to his retirement following the 1987–88 season.

Potvin claimed to have received an offer from Mike Keenan to come out of retirement and play for the arch-rival New York Rangers in 1993.

Potvin was a studio analyst for SportsChannel America television broadcasts from 1988–92, paired with host Bob Papa.

In September 2010, Potvin was hired as the Ottawa Senators' television colour commentator, working with Dean Brown on Rogers Sportsnet.