Monday practice report
Here's what went on in El Segundo today, courtesy of Don...
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Goalie Dan Cloutier returned to the ice today and pronounced himself fit to play. Cloutier faced shots and appeared to show no issues with mobility as a result of the groin strain that kept him out of action over the weekend. "I feel good, I'm just not sure if I'll be playing in San Jose," Cloutier said.
Coach Marc Crawford was unsure about the health of his beleaguered goaltender, and says it will be the training staff who ultimately makes the decision concerning Cloutier's availability.
"We're not 100% sure about Dan. He tried it today, but whether or not he can be a guy who is ready to play tomorrow, that's another question," he said.
Rookie Erik Ersberg who has started the last five games for the Kings is likely to be in net tomorrow in San Jose.
"I think we are definitely looking at playing Erik tomorrow regardless, because I just don't think Dan is ready, and we'll probably have a decision to make if Dan continues to improve," Crawford said. "The trainers are going to make the decision here now if they feel he is going to be at least good enough to be an option for us tomorrow and is capable of playing. We'll deal with that as it moves along. I guess you'll have your answer later on if we call someone up.''
And what about the possibility of not calling anyone up, declaring Cloutier fit to play and both goalies go down (hey, it could happen); who is the Kings' emergency back-up goalie?
"We don't have one," Crawford said. "The trainer Corey Osmak always plays in net when we need someone. He plays in Osmak-ian fashion," he joked.
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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.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Ha Ha Ha.
That's funny MC.
Really funny.
Glad to see that you can always fall back on being comedian. In the event you find yourself unemployed of course.
"Goalie Dan Cloutier returned to the ice today and pronounced himself fit to play"
Wow, it's only taken two years to be ready. But then again it's only Dan that says he is ready. I say give him one more start before the end of the season. Then ship him away for that case of Gatorade!
WE NEED A NONE 100% GOALIE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!
MC, you should start Dan in goal :)
isn't it kinda funny that Craw and Cammy have the same initials and most Kings fans would like to see both of them gone after this season? 2008 - 2009 = -(MC^2) ?
I say let him play...we have an excuse for dumping another game. I know we're not GUARANTEED the top pick but coming in dead last gives you the best shot at it.
Brian...I wouldn't say we want Cammy gone...I would just like the old Cammy back. Maybe a summer off gets his shoulder back and his head back where it belongs. How would you feel if you came back to Ivanans and Armstrong as YOUR linemates?
I say Cloutier plays the rest of the games....
Sincerely
Steve Stamkos
Dan H, you're a riot. All the best in the Stamkos sweepstakes, right??? And yes, no one really wants to see Cammy go, what we'd really like to see is the old Cammy come back, the guy who was leading the team in scoring when he got hurt. I'd like to see the Cammy who can forget what happened in arbitration. I'd like to see the Cammy who's ribs are 100% healed which isn't going to happen until the off-season when he can get some rest. If he's still unable to get his shot off then they should look at moving him. If DL isn't able to sign him to a contract extension which I seriously doubt he will, the point will be moot; he'll be packaged for some combination of Dmen & draft picks I believe....
Does Cammy have some type of mystical shot that is going to return? It looks like the same shot he's had since he played in Manchester. Seems to me his shot is good, it just doesn't find the net. Maybe it's his eyes and not his one knee, high, wide or in the goalie's pads because I didn't wan to pass to the open man shot. In the beginning of the year he played with Kopi and Brown and stayed there until he got hurt. It was then he scored his goals because they FED HIM the puck. Now he's with Fro and Army and can't score? Excuses, excuses.