This is the statement from Jeff Moeller, the Kings’ senior director of communications, on Dan Cloutier’s assertion that the Kings encouraged him to play while hurt:

“We would never put a player’s long-term health at risk.”

This is what was written in the Vancouver Sun story: “(Cloutier) was having hip pain. He volunteered to keep playing because the Kings’ other goalie, Mathieu Garon, had a broken finger. Cloutier’s pain got worse, but the team insisted initially there was little wrong with him. Knowing his body, Cloutier pushed the issue. Only after a specialist said his career could be in jeopardy, the Kings sent him to Vail for season-ending surgery.”