Cloutier traded to Kings for draft picks
Dan Cloutier

Associated Press

7/5/2006 6:09:59 PM

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles Kings made another move in their rebuilding process Wednesday, acquiring goaltender Dan Cloutier from the Vancouver Canucks for two draft picks.

Cloutier played in only 13 games with the Canucks, recording an 8-3-1 record with a 3.17 goals-against average, before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in a game at Anaheim on Nov. 20.

Before that, he was the first goalie in franchise history to post three straight 30-win seasons.

Cloutier said he was looking forward to making a fresh start in Tinseltown.

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''I'm looking forward to it,'' Cloutier said Wednesday night in a conference call. ''I think it's gonna be good for me. I'd been in Vancouver for a few years now. I think it was good timing for a change of scenery.''





Kings general manager Dean Lombardi believes Cloutier will provide the Kings with something they had been lacking - a solid starting netminder.

''I think it's important to have an established goaltender,'' said Lombardi. ''I think some of his best hockey's ahead of him. This kid's a competitor.''

The Canucks will receive a second-round draft choice next year and a conditional selection in the 2009 draft depending on whether the Kings can re-sign Cloutier, who is under contract for next season at $2.55 million US. He can become an unrestricted free agent after that.

Cloutier received medical clearance to resume practising with Vancouver late in the regular season, and could have played in the playoffs, but the Canucks lost six of their last eight games to miss out by three points.

Cloutier became expendable when Vancouver acquired star goaltender Roberto Luongo from Florida last month, and signed him to a $27-million, four-year contract.

''I think Dan's a top-15 goaltender in the league, and when he's on top of his game, he's better than that,'' Canucks GM Dave Nonis said on a conference call.

Cloutier thanked Nonis for expediting the process after the acquisition of Luongo.

''Obviously he could have waited longer,'' said Cloutier. ''But I talked to him right after they made the trade, and I asked them personally that if I was going to be moved, to do it quickly, and he did do that.''

Cloutier began his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 1997 and played for Tampa Bay before being acquired by the Canucks during the 2000-01 season. He had his best season in the 2003-04 season with the Canucks, going 33-21-6 with a 2.27 goals-against average in 60 games.

He was 31-22-5 with a 2.43 goals-against average in 62 games in the 2001-02 season, and 33-16-7 with a 2.42 goals-against average in 57 games in the 2002-03 season.

Plus we get possibly 2 2nd round picks, 1 is assured. This is a great we clear up cap space and get a good return. I think Cloutier is better than Garon or lababara so it is a decent trade for the kings too.