Cloutier speaks (sort of)
I have a message in to Dean Lombardi to discuss Cloutier's comments. Don Fulton was out at practice for me today and gives the following report about Cloutier, who didn't speak directly about the Vancouver Sun article. More from practice throughout the afternoon...
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Perhaps appropriately enough, goalie Dan Cloutier got his bell rung near the end of practice by an errant slap shot.
There is no truth to the rumor that this was a planned hit for the goalie's colorful comments about the Kings in the Vancouver Sun article posted earlier.
Cloutier chose to keep the discussion on the positive, and while he was happy with his own personal performance in last night's 2-1 overtime loss to his former team, the Canucks, he was not satisfied with the outcome.
"It was very disappointing, I mean the game was so close and we played such a good game only to lose 2-1," he said. "But to hold the Canucks to shutout hockey for nearly 58 minutes in what was basically a playoff game for them was great and I thought we played them well. It was disappointing, but at the same time we need to build on the positive."
A day removed from his Sun interview, Cloutier was somewhat more critical of himself than the team.
"I think since I've gotten here I've only been 100% for about two weeks and I've been trying to battle though these injuries. That's no excuse, I mean, last year I should have just pulled myself at the first sign of the problem, but at the time Matty Garon was hurt and I tried to do the right thing and obviously it backfired on me," Cloutier said. "This year I'm not where I want to be in terms of my game by any means, but I am getting better every time I get the chance to play."
And to the fans who are his harshest of critics?
"Oh, it's got to be tough on them. I came in here and they expected better things and I expected better things too. I do have to be better. It takes a long time to turn critics around but I think they'll come around if I start putting wins together. That's just the nature and the beauty of sports."
...oh how quickly he backpedals....
It's too little, too late i'm afraid and the little goodwill that he earned this year has been quickly eroded by his comments.
Now it's up to the Kings to do right by their fans....
Don't you love the way he puts the spin on the topic.
I can't wait until he, along with Lubocrap and Lord Cammalleri are off this team.
Although, I admit it will be tough to get rid of Lubo, with that 5 year salary Dumbardi signed him to.
to be fair... you have to realize that newspaper articles can be sensationalistic.
the few times i've been referenced in articles or quotes have been pulled, i feel I've been misinterpreted many times.
Only a few more games before the Cloutier saga
ends for good. It may be the end of his NHL career.
RIP
Re: Hotel in Manchester... After 30 days, why not go rent a house? You're making $3.1 million a season. At most, this is $12K out of your pocket over a 6 month season in New Hampshire, if figuring he'd have stayed with Monarchs the whole time and were never called up. Or rent month to month, a really nice place. Give the pregnant wife some room.
Perhaps, in greater context, this speaks to the absolute uncertainty and insecurity of Cloutier's situation since training camp. Never healthy, unsure of where he stands, unsure of # of games played, wants to be called up, not enough games under belt to warrant a call up. Told not to go on road trip. Gets called up, lousy defense. What a mess.
He said the same stuff on FSN last night...along with the stuff about things not having worked out and going through some tough times.
It would be a mistake for the kings to buy him out.
I would rather them ride it out for one more year than to take a cap hit for 2 yrs.
Remember they still have Macauley's buyout on the books for the next 3 years.
Anthony, you''re an idiot. Visnovsky has had one not-great season. Just about every player has an off-year. It's not as though the rest of the team has been good around him and he has been the reason this season is lost. He has still been the best offensive defenseman on the team (hint: that's his job), and when the team is better next year his plus-minus will go up as well.
I don't hear you saying Kopitar should be dealt and his plus-minus is just as bad as Lubo's, and it seems that every time I see Lubo out of position on a goal there's Kopi out of position as well.
The dribble you write in your comments is so difficult to read.
Rich, thanks to you and your peers (Jill and Don) for your work in finally providing a legitimate place to go for continuous Kings news.
To Anonoymous
Here here on your comments to Anthony...if only we new your real name...
If 'Anthony' is not his real name, I wish he'd stop using mine.
ANONYMOUS
You just insulted idiots
everywhere LOL
Anthony is a myopic assclown who is right once
in a great while.
He is a walking contradiction who believes this team has a great future even though it is
run by and coached by a couple of idiots
I can't wait until we can get rid of people like "anthonycrap" who don't have a clue, but since he as allowed to spew his venomous garbage it will probably be impossible to do.
After six years of outstanding play, one of which he lead the TEAM, not just defense, in scoring Lubo doesn't play to the level we are used to and knownothingss have the gall to start flinging insults and calling him names. It apparently it doesn't occur to these dim-witted beings that there may be an underlying reason for the decline in performance. Two possibilities spring to mind. It's hard to maintain a constant high level and occassionally there is a drop in play for no apparent reason or sometimes because they try too hard. Another possibility might be an undisclosed injury that is plaguing him and lowering his ability to play as well as in the past. After Stuart was traded it was disclosed that that was the case for him.
"I think they'll come around if I start putting wins together."
We would be wondering what happened to the REAL Dan Cloutier...
Don't worry...we'll leave the goal light on for you...
Don't forget a reporters need to spin a story so it has legs.