Cloutier update
Dan Cloutier accompanied the team on its recent road trip and got in some significant on-ice workout time. After the game in Vancouver, however, Cloutier took a detour to Colorado, where he was examined by hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon. Cloutier passed a ``sports-specific test'' that will allow him to accelerate his workout program.
``I'm pretty much cleared to do everything at this point,'' Cloutier said.
Cloutier is examined every six weeks, and if he chooses he could share flights with Rob Blake, since Blake had his hip surgery done in Colorado today. I asked Cloutier if he was certain he would be 100 percent for training camp.
``It's hard to say right now,'' Cloutier said. ``I'm actually pretty close to 100 percent as we speak, but am I going to be 100 percent in training camp? I think so but I don't know what's going to happen.''
That's not a very reassuring quote if you're the Kings, but at the same time, it's hard for Cloutier to feel definitive about anything. He thought he would be 100 percent for the start of this season, but clearly he wasn't. So the wait-and-see approach is probably the most prudent. For now, Cloutier said he will focus on intense summer workouts.
``I'll definitely be on the ice a lot but I will take it slow,'' Cloutier said. ``There are a lot of guys I like to work with in the summer, and I'll be skating a lot, but at the same time I don't want to go all out, because I'm still coming off surgery.''
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About Rich Hammond
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Well, I'm sure that Cloutier really is a nice guy and all, but I think he would have to be close to 150% next year to drive away the demons from this year in the eyes of the fans...I hope he has a good sports psychologist.
Maybe he is hinting he doesn't know if he will be 100% mentally.
There is nothing the Kings can do. They are stuck with Cloutier. I think it is smart on their part to carry 3 goalies. The question is who can they get for #3. Not much available to make us competitive. I have heard about Esche, but is he really an upgrade of what we have?