Kings' response to Cloutier
Dean Lombardi declined the interview request but gave the following statement: ``The Kings take the utmost pride in how our organization treats its players and its staff. Not only do we treat everyone fairly and top-shelf, it is a priority for our organization.''
A team official also sought to clarify some of the accusations made by Cloutier. Specifically...
-- The Vancouver Sun describes the lead-up to Cloutier's hip surgery last year by reporting, ``In pain, Cloutier flew to Colorado in a middle economy-class seat and was lodged by the Kings at a Super-8 Motel about 50 kilometres from the clinic where he was treated daily.''
According to the Kings, Cloutier insisted upon having the surgery as soon as possible, which meant booking flights and a hotel on Jan. 11, 2007 for a Jan. 12, 2007 surgery. That was a holiday weekend (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and there was only one available flight to Vail, Colo. According to the Kings, that was OK with Cloutier. The Comfort Inn in Vail, located 10 miles from the clinic, was the only hotel to have rooms available on three consecutive nights, and the Kings decided to book that rather than have Cloutier change hotels mid-trip. The clinic later found a different hotel for Cloutier and his wife, and the Kings paid for all five nights.
-- The Vancouver Sun describes Cloutier's time in Manchester by reporting, ``Cloutier's wife, Nikki, accompanied her husband to the American League, where they lived in a hotel. They were expecting their first baby in December. As the due date neared, Cloutier asked the Kings to move them into an apartment. The team balked and said the Cloutiers should stay in their hotel. I said: 'I can't, we're expecting a baby here. I don't know if it's a big thing to you guys, but to me it's the most important thing,'" Cloutier said. "Finally, I called the [Players' Association] and they said after 28 days you're entitled to get a place."''
(This has been updated, because of a clarification on a second phone call)... According to the Kings, the Cloutiers stayed in the team-provided hotel room for an undetermined period of time, after which the Kings asked Cloutier ``to continue in that situation'' -- meaning to stay in the hotel rather than get him an apartment. (I'm still awaiting more clarification from the Kings on this part of the story)
I asked for a bit more clarification, particularly in terms of whether Cloutier's hip injury was ever downplayed by anyone in the organization. When I hear back, I'll post it...
See ya Cloutier. Your stay in L.A., for the fans, was not fun.
Who to believe? Dunno, but it sure sounds like Clutch was expecting the Royal treatment while playing in the Minors.
If I were him, I wouldn't have waited for the team to upgrade me and my wife, I would have paid for it myself out of the $3.1 million I milked out of AEG.
I guess "Cloots" is right, he is an emotional guy. Unfortunately, the emotion seems to have gotten the best of him in this case.
My guess is that his days with the Kings are, thankfully, over.
Rich, I heard the Vancouver media have an anti-management agenda. Have you heard or seen anything about this ?
No matter how you spin it, there is probably blame on both sides. But that being said the question I want to know is like how much better are the other hotels/motels in Manchester? I did a quick look on Hotels.com (yes i know i have a lot of free time tonight) and it's not like there's a Ritz there or anything...
...although maybe the Radisson is considered an upgrade?
My pregnant wife would of said"Give me the damm check book and i'll find us an apt. Stop your crying and put your mask back on!"
Did Fukufuji have a nice apartment? How about any other Manchester player? Or are they all treated the same there? I really want to know what the AHL teams' standard procedure for housing players is.
Cloutier broke a golden rule among players and he did for a reason: he no longer wants to be here. He wants to be bought out so that he can attempt to take his rapidly declining talent elsewhere. Unfortunately this is a league where mediocre goalies are in demand (e.g. JS Aubin). Players do not come out in this manner unless they are attempting to force team management to make a move. Cloutier has disgraced his team, his teammates, his fans and, worst of all, himself. You are a professional hockey player Cloutier ... you should be thankful every day that you get to play the best sport in the world for a living and get WAAAAAY over paid for the level of your talent. This team gave you the benefit of the doubt, despite Lombardi's insane extension before you even laced them up and we, some of us, even felt sorry for you when you were injured, sent down and then brought up again. This is a business and those of us who under-perform in our jobs get reprimanded or fired. You have no one to blame but yourself. I wish you luck in the future; but this team is moving forward and the future is bright. You were given a chance to be a part of it, but you chose your path. Enjoy. One more bit of advice though, you might want to learn another language because you likely won't be playing in the NHL very long.
Why did DL decline the interview? Kind of makes me
wonder what the f@#% is going on. The whole Cloutier thing has been a big fiasco over a goalie who was never that good even when he was healthy. I
question DL only signing character guys now as well-
Cloutier and Nagy come to mind immediately.
If this is true then Cloutier is a piece of s@#t for running his mouth like he did...
Life's great at the Super 8!!!
I agree with you shakes. I think you could point the finger at either side. With or without the hip injury, I do understand that Cloutier hasn't played well for the Kings. But if what Cloutier has said is true, then the thing that bothers me the most is him being told by the Kings that he would play every game in Manchester, win or lose. The plan was to condition Cloutier, and to help him get his game back. But he said that when he got to Manchester, they didn't play him at all. Thats very unfortunate because I think Cloutier still had the potential to "find" his game, and be an impact goaltender in the NHL again.
What is the matter with you lemmings. Are you telling me that the billion dollar AEG corporation couldn't find a hotel, condo, townhome or other accomodation better than super8 within 50 kilometers of Vail Colorado? LOL. Doesn't Anschutz and co own about 50% of Colorado and 75% of downtown Denver? All they could find was super 8? LOLLOLOLOLOL. Stay tuned, next week someone from "the kings organization" will explain to you why less is more and last place is good. Oh wait, they already did that!!
What you are being asked to believe is that probably THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC FORCE IN THE STATE OF COLORADO could not find his #1 goalie a room better than super 8 in Vail. LOLOLOLOL
It's all a scam & Cloutier is stuck in the middle. What scam you say, it's a scam to get #1 draft picks. How dumb can the Kings org be to sign Cloutie to all that cash. It coast them a couple of mil & 2 seasons so far. They assured themselves a last place spot by locking in Cloutier. You all wait & see, DL will make a big purchase this summer &/or before the next Trade Deadline. Scam, scam, scam.
Kings did not play Cloutier
enough for it to be a scam.
Otherwise he would have played the majority of games this year and they
would have 45-50 points
instead of 60 they do have.