Dan Cloutier
Encyclopedia
Dan Cloutier is a Canadian
retired professional ice hockey
goaltender
. In his 10-year National Hockey League
(NHL) career, Cloutier played with the New York Rangers
, Tampa Bay Lightning
, Vancouver Canucks
, and Los Angeles Kings
, spending the majority of his career in Vancouver. He employed a combination of both butterfly
and stand-up goaltending and was known for wearing the uncommon birdcage style helmet.
Cloutier played junior hockey
in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL) for four seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
and Guelph Storm
, making two Memorial Cup
appearances in 1993
and 1996
. Following his second OHL season, he was selected 26th overall by the Rangers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
. He began his professional career spending time in the minor leagues with the Rangers' American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliates, before joining the NHL team full-time in 1998–99. After three seasons playing within the Rangers organization, he was traded to the Lightning, where he spent one-and-a-half years.
In February 2001, he was acquired by the Canucks. Cloutier enjoyed his most successful years as an NHL goaltender with Vancouver, recording three consecutive 30-win seasons between 2001–02 and 2003–04. In the 2006 off-season, he was dealt to Los Angeles, where he struggled with injuries and a decline in play. His contract was bought out by the team following the 2007–08 season. As part of an attempted comeback in 2009, he first signed a deal to try out with the Detroit Red Wings
at the team's training camp, then played briefly with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs
, before retiring due to chronic injury problems. Internationally, Cloutier was part of two Canadian teams
. He won a gold medal at the 1995 World Junior Championship
and was a fourth-string goaltender at the 2001 IIHF World Championship
.
After his time with the Kings, Cloutier served as an assistant coach to his brother, Sylvain
, with the Corpus Christi IceRays
of the Central Hockey League
for one season. Following his retirement, he became a goaltending coach for the Barrie Colts
of the OHL.
of the Western Ontario Hockey League (WOHL). He recorded a 5.83 goals against average
(GAA) over 14 games in his lone season with the team in 1991–92.
The following season, Cloutier began a four-year career in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL), debuting with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
. He played in 12 games (4 wins, 6 losses and 0 ties) with the Greyounds, recording a 4.62 GAA in the regular season. In the 1993 OHL playoffs, Cloutier appeared in an additional four games, winning one and losing two, as part of the Greyhounds' run to the J. Ross Robertson Cup
Finals. Although they lost the league championship to the Peterborough Petes
four-games-to-one, the Greyhounds still qualified for the 1993 Memorial Cup
as the tournament's host team. The Greyhounds met the Petes again in the Memorial Cup final, defeating them by a 4–2 score. Cloutier did not appear in any Memorial Cup games, in lieu of starter Kevin Hodson
. During his rookie season in the OHL, he also played in five games at the Junior A level with the Timmins Golden Bears of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association
.
Cloutier assumed the starting position with the Greyhounds in 1993–94
, posting 28 wins, 14 losses and 6 ties, along with a 3.56 GAA and .890 save percentage
. Appearing in an additional 14 playoff games, he led the Greyhounds to the OHL semifinals, where they were defeated by the Detroit Jr. Red Wings
.
In the off-season, Cloutier was selected by the New York Rangers
26th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
. He was the third-ranked goaltender playing in North America by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
and the fourth goaltender taken in the draft. Appearing in his first NHL training camp in September 1994, he was returned to the OHL by the middle of the month.
During his third junior season in 1994–95, Cloutier recorded a 4.41 GAA in 45 games (15 wins, 26 losses and 2 ties). As a team, the Greyhounds struggled and finished out of the playoffs. In the off-season, Cloutier was signed by the Rangers to an NHL contract on July 7, 1995.
Despite his NHL contract, Cloutier remained in the OHL for the 1995–96 season
. In his 12th game of the season with Sault Ste. Marie, he suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two months. During his return to the lineup in a game against the Windsor Spitfires
on January 2, 1996, he reaggravated the injury. While continuing to recover, he was dealt to the Guelph Storm
at the trade deadline on January 10 in exchange for goaltender Andy Adams and two draft picks. Splitting the campaign between the Greyhounds and Storm, he recorded a 2.85 GAA in 30 games. As the Storm finished the season with lowest GAA in the league, Cloutier and backup Brett Thompson
were jointly awarded the Dave Pinkney Trophy
. Cloutier additionally received OHL Second All-Star Team honours. In the playoffs, he recorded a 3.14 GAA in 16 games. However, for the second time in four years, his team was defeated in the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals by the Peterborough Petes. Despite losing the OHL title, Guelph earned a berth into the 1996 Memorial Cup
as the OHL's representative; the Petes had an automatic bye into the tournament as the host team. The Storm lost all three of their round-robin games, failing to qualify for the Memorial Cup playoffs. Cloutier had a 4.00 GAA in the three contests.
with the Binghamton Rangers
of the American Hockey League
(AHL), New York's minor league affiliate. He assumed the starting position in Binghamton as a rookie, posting a 3.55 GAA and .892 save percentage to be named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, New York changed their AHL affiliate to the Hartford Wolf Pack
; Cloutier was consequently moved to Hartford for the club's inaugural season in 1998–99
. By late-December 1998, he earned a call-up to the Rangers as backup goaltender Jason Muzzatti
was demoted to the Wolf Pack. At the time of his call-up, Rangers management established that although he would play backup to Mike Richter
, they intended on giving him opportunities to play. In anticipation of Cloutier's NHL debut, the team's goaltending consultant, Sam St. Laurent
, described his playing style as a combination of both butterfly
and stand-up goaltending.
He appeared in his first NHL game on January 3, 1998, replacing Richter seven minutes into a contest against the Washington Capitals
. Cloutier stopped all 16 shots he faced to record his first NHL victory by a 3–2 score. He made his first NHL start the following game against the Carolina Hurricanes
on January 6, 1998. Stopping 26 shots, he helped the Rangers to a 4–2 win. He played 12 games total in 1998–99, backing Richter up for the remainder of the season, recording 4 wins, 5 losses and a tie with a 2.50 GAA and .907 save percentage. Perhaps his most well-known performance as a Ranger was during a game against the New York Islanders
on April 4, 1998, in which he fought
opposing goalie Tommy Salo
. With seven minutes remaining in a 3–0 loss, several fights broke out between players. While Salo tried to intervene in a fight between the Rangers' P. J. Stock
and Islanders' Mariusz Czerkawski
, Cloutier attacked the Islanders goaltender. The subsequent goalie fight resulted in Cloutier repeatedly punching Salo in the back of the head before taking it upon himself to stop. He proceeded to skate towards the Islanders bench, challenging the opposing players before being restrained by a referee.
In the 1998 off-season, the Rangers signed goaltender Kay Whitmore
who Cloutier competed with to retain his backup position. Whitmore spent the season in the minors as Cloutier was kept on the Rangers roster in 1998–99. Playing in his first full NHL season, Cloutier appeared in 22 games (6 wins, 8 losses, 3 ties) with a 2.68 GAA and .914 save percentage.
The following off-season, Cloutier was traded on the day of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
(June 26, 1999) to the Tampa Bay Lightning
. He was sent to Tampa Bay, along with winger Niklas Sundstrom
, a first-round selection (Nikita Alexeev
) in 2000
and a third-round selection (subsequently traded) in 2000, for the Lightning's first-round selection in that year's draft (Pavel Brendl
). With the departure of Tampa Bay's previous starter, Bill Ranford
, to the Detroit Red Wings
and Darren Puppa nearing the end of his career, Cloutier assumed the starting position for his new club. Cloutier's first season as an NHL starter was interrupted on several occasions with numerous injuries and a suspension. He suffered a strained groin early in the campaign on November 18, 1999, forcing him out of two games. On January 14, 2000, he was suspended by the league for four games after an incident with Islanders forward Tim Connolly
. After the two collided, Cloutier cross-checked Connolly, then kicked his head (Connolly's helmet was intact) while he was lying face-down on the ice. The following month, he re-strained his groin on February 21 and missed four games. Cloutier missed another four contests beginning on March 14 after injuring his neck. His fourth injury of the season occurred on March 28, when he strained his medial collateral ligament
(MCL) and missed five games. He finished the 1999–2000 season appearing in 52 games for the Lightning, recording 9 wins, 30 losses and 3 ties as the team finished second-last in the league. He registered a 3.49 GAA and .885 save percentage.
Injury troubles continued the following season, in 2000–01, as Cloutier was sidelined for nine games early in the season after straining his bicep on October 22, 2000. After recovering, he recorded his first NHL shutout
, making 26 saves, in a 3–0 win against the Detroit Red Wings on December 2, 2000. He achieved the feat in his 95th career game in the NHL. During that month, head coach Steve Ludzik
began playing backup Kevin Weekes
in favour of Cloutier. By the trade deadline, Cloutier was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
on February 7, 2001, in exchange for defenceman Adrian Aucoin
and a second-round selection in the 2001 draft
.
; the Canucks' third goaltender, Felix Potvin
, was traded away to the Los Angeles Kings
soon after Cloutier's acquisition. Playing in 16 games with the Canucks to close out the 2000–01 season, Cloutier recorded 4 wins, 6 losses and 5 ties, along with a 2.43 GAA and .894 save percentage. He helped the Canucks make the playoffs for the first time in five years that season. Playing the first-seeded Colorado Avalanche
in the opening round, Cloutier made his first NHL post-season appearance in game one, stopping 23 of 28 shots in a losing effort. Having surrendered five goals, Essensa was given the start over Cloutier for the following two contests. After Essensa suffered a knee injury in game three, Cloutier was back in net for the fourth and final game of the series, a 5–1 loss. He had a 4.63 GAA and .842 save percentage in his first two career playoff games. Despite the Canucks' early playoff exit, Cloutier's addition to the team helped bolster a young and improving team led by such players as captain Markus Naslund
, winger Todd Bertuzzi
and defenceman Ed Jovanovski
.
During the off-season, both Canucks goaltenders became free agents. Cloutier was re-signed on July 18, 2001, while Essensa agreed to a contract with the Buffalo Sabres
. With Essensa's departure, Cloutier established himself as the team's starting goaltender in 2001–02. He notched his first shutout as a Canuck on October 13, 2001, in a 4–0 win against the Avalanche. The following month, Cloutier was named NHL Player of the Week on November 6, 2001. He earned a second such distinction near the end of the season on March 18, 2002. Eight days later, he recorded his seventh and final shutout of the campaign in a 4–0 win against the Los Angeles Kings, setting a new team record. His seven shutouts surpassed Gary Smith and Garth Snow
's previous team record of six, accomplished in 1974–75 and 1998–99, respectively. Cloutier's mark was later surpassed by Roberto Luongo
, who recorded nine shutouts in 2008–09
. Cloutier finished his first full season with Vancouver posting 31 wins, 22 losses and 5 ties with a 2.43 GAA and .901 save percentage. He played in a career-high 62 games despite missing nine games in January and February 2002 with an ankle injury.
Entering the 2002 playoffs
as the eighth seed for the second consecutive year, the Canucks faced the Presidents' Trophy
-winning Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. With 32- and 34-save performances from Cloutier, Vancouver won the first two games of the series. In game three, the Canucks and Red Wings were tied with a minute remaining in the second period when Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidström
scored on Cloutier with a slapshot
from centre ice. The goal was observed by the media as a turning point in the series for both Cloutier and the Canucks as a team. The Red Wings won game three, as well as the next three contests to eliminate the Canucks in six games; Cloutier was taken out of the game in the first period of the next two contests in favour of backup Peter Skudra.
Cloutier began the 2002–03 season by recording a shutout against the Calgary Flames
on October 10, 2002. It marked the first time in Canucks history that the team began the season with a shutout win. In November 2002, Cloutier won 11 of 12 games, including a team record 10 straight games, while recording a 2.15 GAA and .920 save percentage. He was named NHL Player of the Month, becoming the fourth Canucks player in team history to receive the distinction. He suffered a setback in December 2002, when he missed three games with a knee injury. On February 17, 2003, he was named NHL Player of the Week for the third time in his career. Six days later, he recorded his 30th win of the season, becoming the first Canucks goaltender in team history to reach the plateau in back-to-back years. That same week, he suffered his second knee injury of the season and missed 10 games. He returned to the lineup by mid-March to finish the season with Vancouver. After the Canucks ranked in the eighth and final playoff spot in Cloutier's first two seasons with the team, Cloutier helped lead them to within one point of the Northwest Division
title in 2002–03. In 57 games, he posted 33 wins, 16 losses and 7 ties with a 2.42 GAA and .908 save percentage. Cloutier won the first and only playoff series of his career in 2003
as the Canucks eliminated the St. Louis Blues
in seven games. He made 33 saves in the deciding contest, a 4–1 win for Vancouver. Advancing to the second round against the Minnesota Wild
, the Canucks took a three-games-to-one lead. With Vancouver needing one more win to eliminate the Wild, Cloutier was taken out of Game 5 in favour of rookie Alex Auld
after allowing six goals on 21 shots through two periods. As both teams were leaving the ice at the start of the second intermission, opposing goaltender Dwayne Roloson
bumped Canucks forward Trevor Linden
, prompting Cloutier to challenge Roloson; Cloutier threw two punches towards Roloson and received minor penalties for roughing and for leaving his crease. With Cloutier on the bench for the third period, the Canucks lost 7–2. In the following two games, Cloutier allowed nine goals on 40 shots as the Wild completed a three-game comeback to eliminate the Canucks.
In the off-season, Cloutier was re-signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 15, 2003. Nearly two months into the subsequent season, Cloutier recorded his 100th career NHL win, making 31 saves in a 3–1 victory over the Ottawa Senators
on November 27, 2003. As the season progressed, Cloutier suffered several more injuries, the first of which was a groin injury in December 2003 that sidelined him for three games. He missed three more games before the season ended with cases of the flu and a lower-body injury. On February 14, 2004, he was fined $1,000 by the league for hitting opposing forward Ronald Petrovicky
in the face with his blocker during a game against the Atlanta Thrashers
.
Cloutier's regular season success with the Canucks continued in 2003–04, as he became the first goaltender in team history to record three consecutive 30-win seasons. Over 60 games, he recorded 33 wins, 21 losses and 6 ties. His 2.27 GAA, which established a Canucks team-record (later surpassed by Roberto Luongo), and .914 save percentage were both career-highs. In the opening round of the 2004 playoffs
against the Calgary Flames, Cloutier suffered another injury, spraining his right ankle in the first period of game three. After Johan Hedberg
initially replaced Cloutier, Alex Auld
filled in for the final three games of the series; Vancouver was defeated in seven games.
As initial contract negotiations failed in the off-season, Cloutier filed for arbitration
on July 16, 2004. Arbitration was avoided by both sides when Cloutier agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract 11 days later. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, however, Cloutier spent the season mostly inactive until signing with EC KAC
of the Austrian Hockey League
on January 20, 2005. Replacing injured starter Andrew Verner
, he appeared in 13 games with the Klagenfurt
-based team, going undefeated with a 1.94 GAA. EC KAC finished the regular season second with the second-best record in the league. Cloutier appeared in 10 additional playoff games, recording a 2.75 GAA. EC KAC advanced to the finals, where they were defeated four-games-to-three by the Vienna Capitals
.
With NHL play set to resume in 2005–06, Cloutier re-signed with the Canucks to a two-year, $5 million contract on August 18, 2005. Returning to the Canucks, he was injured early in the season during a game against the Avalanche on October 29, 2005. Attempting to check Avalanche forward Andrew Brunette
, Canucks defenceman Nolan Baumgartner
collided with Cloutier, causing a goal and forcing Cloutier out of the game with both a concussion and whiplash
. The injury caused him to miss five games. Soon after returning, Cloutier was re-injured in a game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
on November 20, when forward Rob Niedermayer
skated into the crease and collided with Cloutier. He stayed in net to complete the game, a 3–2 win, and was on the bench the following game to backup Auld. However, after aggravating the knee in a practice on November 23, an MRI
revealed a partially-torn anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL). Electing for reconstructive knee surgery, occurring on December 15, Cloutier missed the remainder of the season.
As the Canucks missed the playoffs in 2006
, several changes were made to team personnel in the off-season. One such change included the acquisition of All-Star goaltender Roberto Luongo
from the Florida Panthers
. Shortly after Luongo was acquired, Cloutier was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on July 5, 2006, for a second-round draft pick in 2007
and a conditional pick in 2009
. Cloutier finished his five-and-a-half-year tenure with the Canucks third on the team's all-time wins list with 109, behind Kirk McLean
and Richard Brodeur
, and second in shutouts with 14, behind McLean.
, who was hired by the team shortly after being let go by the Canucks in the 2006 off-season.
Cloutier made his Kings debut in the first game of the regular season, a 4–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on October 6, 2006. He made 28 saves on 32 shots. During his first week of the regular season, he suffered a hip injury, but continued playing on the insistence of team management. In retrospect, he later recalled that his "biggest mistake was playing hurt for them." The Kings organziation also had Cloutier change his goaltender mask from the uncommon mask/cage style to the more traditional full-fibreglass style for safety and insurance purposes. After recording 6 wins in 24 games and a 3.98 GAA, Cloutier's hip forced him to end his season, aggravating it on December 23, 2006, in a 7–0 loss to the Nashville Predators
.
At the time, the injury was still believed to be minor and Cloutier volunteered to continue playing in lieu of backup Mathieu Garon
also being sidelined with a broken finger. When the pain in his hip quickly got worse, Cloutier appealed to team management. He saw a specialist who told him the injury could put his career in jeopardy. He was subsequently flown to Colorado
for surgery on January 12, 2007. Cloutier remained in Colorado for ongoing treatment and was lodged by the organization in a motel 50 kilometres away from the clinic. The Kings' original insistence that he play and his subsequent lodging proved to be a contentious issue for Cloutier.
Having recovered from his injury, he returned for training camp in September 2007. He was assigned to the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs
, after losing a roster spot to goaltenders Jason LaBarbera
and Jonathan Bernier
. During his stint with Manchester, Cloutier struggled to earn playing time, as younger goaltenders Jonathan Quick
, Danny Taylor
and Erik Ersberg
were given more opportunity to play. At one point, he reported to the team's arena in preparation for a road trip, but was left in Manchester in favour of the team's other goaltenders. To Cloutier's surprise, he was recalled by Los Angeles on February 7, 2008, while Kings backup Jean-Sebastien Aubin
was sent down in his place. After clearing re-entry waivers
, he joined the Kings' roster to backup LaBarbera. Three days later, Cloutier started in goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets
; he recorded his first NHL win in over a year, backstopping the Kings to a 3–2 shootout victory. After LaBarbera became sidelined with a groin injury, Cloutier began earning additional playing time with the Kings. On March 10, he played against the Canucks for the first time since benig traded. He stopped 38 shots in a 2–1 overtime loss against his former teammates. Later that month, he suffered a groin injury and missed three games. Remaining with the Kings for the remainder of the 2007–08 season as backup to Ersberg, he recorded 2 wins in 9 games with a 3.44 GAA and .887 save percentage.
In the subsequent off-season, Cloutier's remaining year on his contract was bought out by the Kings on June 21, 2008. As team's cannot buyout the contract of an injured player, Cloutier claimed he was not healthy and contested the move. However, the NHL ruled in favour of the Kings; the buyout stood and Cloutier became an unrestricted free agent. Consequently, he received $2 million over the next two years from the Kings.
Without an NHL job, Cloutier took up an assistant coaching position in the Central Hockey League
(CHL) with his younger brother Sylvain Cloutier
, who had just been hired as head coach of the Corpus Christi IceRays
.
on September 4, 2009, sensing he had a better chance to secure a contract with the latter team. He was expected to compete with Jimmy Howard
for the Wings' backup position. On September 21, Cloutier made his first and only pre-season appearance with the Red Wings, splitting a game with Wings prospect Daniel Larsson; he stopped all eight shots he faced in a 4-2 loss against the New York Rangers. While Red Wings general manager Ken Holland
said Cloutier "looked sharp" in his first NHL action since April 5, 2008, he also alluded to the media that the amount of goaltenders competing for spots within the Red Wings organization was a factor against the likelihood of him signing Cloutier. Three days later, he was officially released from the Red Wings.
Cloutier subsequently received several offers to play in Europe
until signing a tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs
of the AHL in December 2009. He reportedly had received offers from two other North American teams, but chose Rockford as the best choice for his family. Cloutier made his IceHogs debut on December 6 against the Manitoba Moose
, marking his return to professional hockey after 18 months. He played 26 minutes before receiving a match penalty for punching Moose player Guillaume Desbiens
after the opposing forward collided with him in his crease. The following day, Cloutier was additionally suspended by the AHL for one game. After serving his ban, he recorded his first win the IceDogs against the Texas Stars
on December 12. Cloutier began receiving interest from NHL teams, but his hip began acting up once again. By the end of the month, Cloutier and the IceHogs mutual agreed to terminate his tryout contract. He recorded one win and one loss in three games with the IceDogs, along with a 2.47 GAA and .893 save percentage. In a later interview, published on the Canucks' website in August 2010, Cloutier declared he was most likely retiring due to chronic injury troubles.
. He went undefeated in three games with a 2.67 GAA to help Canada
win a gold medal as the host country in Red Deer, Alberta
. Cloutier missed a second opportunity to play for the Canadian national junior team the following year due to a shoulder injury suffered during OHL play.
On May 4, 2001, he was added to the Canadian men's team's roster for the 2001 World Championships
. One of four goaltenders on the roster, alongside Roberto Luongo, Jean-Sebastien Giguere
and Fred Brathwaite
, he did not appear in any games. Canada finished the tournament in fifth place.
's coaching staff on the Central Hockey League
(CHL)'s Corpus Christi IceRays
as a de facto
assistant coach. He served in that capacity for the 2008–09 season until his failed attempt at an NHL return in 2009
. In July 2010, Cloutier signed a one-year contract to become a part-time goaltending coach with the OHL
's Barrie Colts
.
, Quebec
. He moved with his family at a young age to Sault Ste. Marie
, Ontario
, as a result of his father's work as a logger. Having grown up in both French and English communities, Cloutier is bilingual. Playing minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, he was at one time on the same bantam team as another future NHL goaltender, Marty Turco
. Like many Quebec-born goaltenders of his time, Cloutier patterned the butterfly
elements of his playing style after Hall of Fame
goaltender Patrick Roy
.
Cloutier and his wife Nikki, have a daughter named Kali, born in December 2007, and a son named Kane, born in June 2010. Cloutier's older brother, Sylvain was also a hockey player and was captain of the Guelph Storm of the OHL. After a professional career in England
, he became the head coach for the minor professional Corpus Christi IceRays of the CHL in 2008–09.
In November 2005, following Cloutier's season-ending ACL injury, a rumour began circling in the media that he was being investigated for a hit-and-run accident that killed two people outside a Gastown
nightclub. Cloutier never commented on the record, while his agent later refuted the rumour, saying it was "Absolutely untrue" and that Cloutier "was livid with that story."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
retired professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. In his 10-year National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) career, Cloutier played with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, and Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, spending the majority of his career in Vancouver. He employed a combination of both butterfly
Butterfly style
In ice hockey, "butterfly style" is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the spread goal pads and hands to a butterfly's wings...
and stand-up goaltending and was known for wearing the uncommon birdcage style helmet.
Cloutier played junior hockey
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL) for four seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
and Guelph Storm
Guelph Storm
The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
, making two Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
appearances in 1993
1993 Memorial Cup
The 1993 Memorial Cup took place 15 - 23 May 1993, at the Sault Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.Participating teams were:* The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds ;* The Laval Titan ;...
and 1996
1996 Memorial Cup
The 1996 Memorial Cup occurred May 11-19 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. Participating teams were the host Peterborough Petes, who were also the champions of the Ontario Hockey League, as well as the OHL runner-up Guelph Storm, and the winners of the Quebec Major...
. Following his second OHL season, he was selected 26th overall by the Rangers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
1994 NHL Entry Draft
The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. He began his professional career spending time in the minor leagues with the Rangers' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliates, before joining the NHL team full-time in 1998–99. After three seasons playing within the Rangers organization, he was traded to the Lightning, where he spent one-and-a-half years.
In February 2001, he was acquired by the Canucks. Cloutier enjoyed his most successful years as an NHL goaltender with Vancouver, recording three consecutive 30-win seasons between 2001–02 and 2003–04. In the 2006 off-season, he was dealt to Los Angeles, where he struggled with injuries and a decline in play. His contract was bought out by the team following the 2007–08 season. As part of an attempted comeback in 2009, he first signed a deal to try out with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
at the team's training camp, then played briefly with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
, before retiring due to chronic injury problems. Internationally, Cloutier was part of two Canadian teams
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
. He won a gold medal at the 1995 World Junior Championship
1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 18th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with games held throughout central Alberta...
and was a fourth-string goaltender at the 2001 IIHF World Championship
2001 IIHF World Championship
The 2001 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 28 and May 13, 2001 in Nuremberg, Cologne and Hanover, Germany.It was the 65th annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation .-Venues:-Qualification Tournament:...
.
After his time with the Kings, Cloutier served as an assistant coach to his brother, Sylvain
Sylvain Cloutier
Sylvain Richard Cloutier is the player coach of the Hull Stingrays of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
, with the Corpus Christi IceRays
Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League . The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species of stingrays who...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
for one season. Following his retirement, he became a goaltending coach for the Barrie Colts
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There were two previous Barrie Colts team which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1907 until 1910 and another from the 1920s to 1940s.-Original Colts:The...
of the OHL.
Junior career
As a 15-year old, Cloutier played Junior B with the St. Thomas StarsSt. Thomas Stars
The St. Thomas Stars are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Western Ontario Hockey League (WOHL). He recorded a 5.83 goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA) over 14 games in his lone season with the team in 1991–92.
The following season, Cloutier began a four-year career in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL), debuting with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey...
. He played in 12 games (4 wins, 6 losses and 0 ties) with the Greyounds, recording a 4.62 GAA in the regular season. In the 1993 OHL playoffs, Cloutier appeared in an additional four games, winning one and losing two, as part of the Greyhounds' run to the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
Finals. Although they lost the league championship to the Peterborough Petes
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
four-games-to-one, the Greyhounds still qualified for the 1993 Memorial Cup
1993 Memorial Cup
The 1993 Memorial Cup took place 15 - 23 May 1993, at the Sault Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.Participating teams were:* The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds ;* The Laval Titan ;...
as the tournament's host team. The Greyhounds met the Petes again in the Memorial Cup final, defeating them by a 4–2 score. Cloutier did not appear in any Memorial Cup games, in lieu of starter Kevin Hodson
Kevin Hodson
Kevin Hodson is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender. Hodson played professionally in the NHL and AHL before ending his playing career in the Finnish SM-liiga in 2003–04....
. During his rookie season in the OHL, he also played in five games at the Junior A level with the Timmins Golden Bears of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association was a Junior A ice hockey league based in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The league lasted from 1962 until 1972 and competed for the Memorial Cup from 1962 until 1970 and the Manitoba Centennial Trophy from 1970 until 1972.-History:The Northern Ontario...
.
Cloutier assumed the starting position with the Greyhounds in 1993–94
1993–94 OHL season
The 1993–94 OHL season was the 14th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The North Bay Centennials won the J...
, posting 28 wins, 14 losses and 6 ties, along with a 3.56 GAA and .890 save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
. Appearing in an additional 14 playoff games, he led the Greyhounds to the OHL semifinals, where they were defeated by the Detroit Jr. Red Wings
Detroit Jr. Red Wings
This article is about the Junior Red Wings team in the Ontario Hockey League. For the team in the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League from the 1970s, see Detroit Jr. Red Wings .----...
.
In the off-season, Cloutier was selected by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
26th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
1994 NHL Entry Draft
The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. He was the third-ranked goaltender playing in North America by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
and the fourth goaltender taken in the draft. Appearing in his first NHL training camp in September 1994, he was returned to the OHL by the middle of the month.
During his third junior season in 1994–95, Cloutier recorded a 4.41 GAA in 45 games (15 wins, 26 losses and 2 ties). As a team, the Greyhounds struggled and finished out of the playoffs. In the off-season, Cloutier was signed by the Rangers to an NHL contract on July 7, 1995.
Despite his NHL contract, Cloutier remained in the OHL for the 1995–96 season
1995–96 OHL season
The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:...
. In his 12th game of the season with Sault Ste. Marie, he suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two months. During his return to the lineup in a game against the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
on January 2, 1996, he reaggravated the injury. While continuing to recover, he was dealt to the Guelph Storm
Guelph Storm
The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:...
at the trade deadline on January 10 in exchange for goaltender Andy Adams and two draft picks. Splitting the campaign between the Greyhounds and Storm, he recorded a 2.85 GAA in 30 games. As the Storm finished the season with lowest GAA in the league, Cloutier and backup Brett Thompson
Brett Thompson
Brett Thompson . He is a South African cricketer who played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup for the South Africa in Sri Lanka.-References:...
were jointly awarded the Dave Pinkney Trophy
Dave Pinkney Trophy
The Dave Pinkney Trophy is awarded to the goaltenders of the team that has the best team goals-against-average in the Ontario Hockey League.-Winners:*2009–10 J.P. Anderson & Mickael Audette, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors...
. Cloutier additionally received OHL Second All-Star Team honours. In the playoffs, he recorded a 3.14 GAA in 16 games. However, for the second time in four years, his team was defeated in the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals by the Peterborough Petes. Despite losing the OHL title, Guelph earned a berth into the 1996 Memorial Cup
1996 Memorial Cup
The 1996 Memorial Cup occurred May 11-19 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. Participating teams were the host Peterborough Petes, who were also the champions of the Ontario Hockey League, as well as the OHL runner-up Guelph Storm, and the winners of the Quebec Major...
as the OHL's representative; the Petes had an automatic bye into the tournament as the host team. The Storm lost all three of their round-robin games, failing to qualify for the Memorial Cup playoffs. Cloutier had a 4.00 GAA in the three contests.
Early career (1996–2001)
Cloutier began his professional career in 1996–971996–97 AHL season
The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...
with the Binghamton Rangers
Binghamton Rangers
The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL), New York's minor league affiliate. He assumed the starting position in Binghamton as a rookie, posting a 3.55 GAA and .892 save percentage to be named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. The following season, New York changed their AHL affiliate to the Hartford Wolf Pack
Hartford Wolf Pack
The Connecticut Whale is a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They play in the American Hockey League . They play their home games at the XL Center....
; Cloutier was consequently moved to Hartford for the club's inaugural season in 1998–99
1998–99 AHL season
The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
. By late-December 1998, he earned a call-up to the Rangers as backup goaltender Jason Muzzatti
Jason Muzzatti
Jason Mark Muzzatti is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and now head coach of Flint Generals.-Playing career:...
was demoted to the Wolf Pack. At the time of his call-up, Rangers management established that although he would play backup to Mike Richter
Mike Richter
Michael Thomas Richter is a former ice hockey goaltender. One of the most successful American-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his...
, they intended on giving him opportunities to play. In anticipation of Cloutier's NHL debut, the team's goaltending consultant, Sam St. Laurent
Sam St. Laurent
Sam St. Laurent is a retired ice hockey goaltender that has played in the National Hockey League as well as on the Canadian national men's hockey team. St. Laurent serves the distinction of being the last NHL goaltender to wear a goalies mask made entirely out of fiberglass.- Playing career:St...
, described his playing style as a combination of both butterfly
Butterfly style
In ice hockey, "butterfly style" is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the spread goal pads and hands to a butterfly's wings...
and stand-up goaltending.
He appeared in his first NHL game on January 3, 1998, replacing Richter seven minutes into a contest against the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. Cloutier stopped all 16 shots he faced to record his first NHL victory by a 3–2 score. He made his first NHL start the following game against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
on January 6, 1998. Stopping 26 shots, he helped the Rangers to a 4–2 win. He played 12 games total in 1998–99, backing Richter up for the remainder of the season, recording 4 wins, 5 losses and a tie with a 2.50 GAA and .907 save percentage. Perhaps his most well-known performance as a Ranger was during a game against the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on April 4, 1998, in which he fought
Fighting in ice hockey
Fighting in ice hockey is an established tradition of the sport in North America, with a long history involving many levels of amateur and professional play and including some notable individual fights. Although a definite source of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans...
opposing goalie Tommy Salo
Tommy Salo
Tommy Mikael Salo is a Swedish General Manager of Swedish ice hockey club Leksands IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and a former head coach of IK Oskarshamn.-Playing career:...
. With seven minutes remaining in a 3–0 loss, several fights broke out between players. While Salo tried to intervene in a fight between the Rangers' P. J. Stock
P. J. Stock
Philip Joseph Stock is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Since retiring as a player he has become a regular member of the Hockey Night In Canada broadcast team.-Playing career:...
and Islanders' Mariusz Czerkawski
Mariusz Czerkawski
Mariusz Czerkawski is a retired Polish ice hockey player. He played for the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League . In addition to playing in the NHL, Czerkawski played for several different European-based teams...
, Cloutier attacked the Islanders goaltender. The subsequent goalie fight resulted in Cloutier repeatedly punching Salo in the back of the head before taking it upon himself to stop. He proceeded to skate towards the Islanders bench, challenging the opposing players before being restrained by a referee.
In the 1998 off-season, the Rangers signed goaltender Kay Whitmore
Kay Whitmore
Kay Whitmore is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender.-Hockey career:Whitmore played Junior A hockey with the Sudbury Legion. In 1983-84, he joined OHL's Peterborough Petes and went 17-8-0 as a major junior rookie. The following season, he paced the league with 53 games by a goalie and 35 wins....
who Cloutier competed with to retain his backup position. Whitmore spent the season in the minors as Cloutier was kept on the Rangers roster in 1998–99. Playing in his first full NHL season, Cloutier appeared in 22 games (6 wins, 8 losses, 3 ties) with a 2.68 GAA and .914 save percentage.
The following off-season, Cloutier was traded on the day of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
(June 26, 1999) to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. He was sent to Tampa Bay, along with winger Niklas Sundstrom
Niklas Sundström
Lars Niklas Sundström is a professional ice hockey player who started his professional career in Modo Hockey. He was drafted eighth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He was also on Wayne Gretzky's line. He was not known for his goal scoring ability, but for his...
, a first-round selection (Nikita Alexeev
Nikita Alexeev
Nikita Sergeyevich Alexeev is a Russian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League . He most recently played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks.- Playing career :...
) in 2000
2000 NHL Entry Draft
The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was held from June 24 to 25 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild...
and a third-round selection (subsequently traded) in 2000, for the Lightning's first-round selection in that year's draft (Pavel Brendl
Pavel Brendl
Pavel Brendl is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL.-Playing career:...
). With the departure of Tampa Bay's previous starter, Bill Ranford
Bill Ranford
William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...
, to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and Darren Puppa nearing the end of his career, Cloutier assumed the starting position for his new club. Cloutier's first season as an NHL starter was interrupted on several occasions with numerous injuries and a suspension. He suffered a strained groin early in the campaign on November 18, 1999, forcing him out of two games. On January 14, 2000, he was suspended by the league for four games after an incident with Islanders forward Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly is an American professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
. After the two collided, Cloutier cross-checked Connolly, then kicked his head (Connolly's helmet was intact) while he was lying face-down on the ice. The following month, he re-strained his groin on February 21 and missed four games. Cloutier missed another four contests beginning on March 14 after injuring his neck. His fourth injury of the season occurred on March 28, when he strained his medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
(MCL) and missed five games. He finished the 1999–2000 season appearing in 52 games for the Lightning, recording 9 wins, 30 losses and 3 ties as the team finished second-last in the league. He registered a 3.49 GAA and .885 save percentage.
Injury troubles continued the following season, in 2000–01, as Cloutier was sidelined for nine games early in the season after straining his bicep on October 22, 2000. After recovering, he recorded his first NHL shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, making 26 saves, in a 3–0 win against the Detroit Red Wings on December 2, 2000. He achieved the feat in his 95th career game in the NHL. During that month, head coach Steve Ludzik
Steve Ludzik
Stephen Paul Ludzik is a retired former professional ice hockey player and coach who currently works as a television analyst for The Score....
began playing backup Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . He is now a color commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, and a studio analyst for NHL on the Fly.- Player :Weekes' career began with the Owen...
in favour of Cloutier. By the trade deadline, Cloutier was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
on February 7, 2001, in exchange for defenceman Adrian Aucoin
Adrian Aucoin
Adrian Aucoin is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
and a second-round selection in the 2001 draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
.
Vancouver Canucks (2001–06)
Upon arriving in Vancouver, Cloutier began sharing starts with veteran goaltender Bob EssensaBob Essensa
Robert Earle Essensa is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender who spent 12 seasons in the National Hockey League...
; the Canucks' third goaltender, Felix Potvin
Felix Potvin
Félix "The Cat" Potvin is a former National Hockey League goaltender.-QMJHL career:From 1988 through to 1991 Potvin played with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team...
, was traded away to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
soon after Cloutier's acquisition. Playing in 16 games with the Canucks to close out the 2000–01 season, Cloutier recorded 4 wins, 6 losses and 5 ties, along with a 2.43 GAA and .894 save percentage. He helped the Canucks make the playoffs for the first time in five years that season. Playing the first-seeded Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in the opening round, Cloutier made his first NHL post-season appearance in game one, stopping 23 of 28 shots in a losing effort. Having surrendered five goals, Essensa was given the start over Cloutier for the following two contests. After Essensa suffered a knee injury in game three, Cloutier was back in net for the fourth and final game of the series, a 5–1 loss. He had a 4.63 GAA and .842 save percentage in his first two career playoff games. Despite the Canucks' early playoff exit, Cloutier's addition to the team helped bolster a young and improving team led by such players as captain Markus Naslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
, winger Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
and defenceman Ed Jovanovski
Ed Jovanovski
Edward Jovanovski is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman of Macedonian descent, an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
.
During the off-season, both Canucks goaltenders became free agents. Cloutier was re-signed on July 18, 2001, while Essensa agreed to a contract with the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. With Essensa's departure, Cloutier established himself as the team's starting goaltender in 2001–02. He notched his first shutout as a Canuck on October 13, 2001, in a 4–0 win against the Avalanche. The following month, Cloutier was named NHL Player of the Week on November 6, 2001. He earned a second such distinction near the end of the season on March 18, 2002. Eight days later, he recorded his seventh and final shutout of the campaign in a 4–0 win against the Los Angeles Kings, setting a new team record. His seven shutouts surpassed Gary Smith and Garth Snow
Garth Snow
Garth E. Snow is an American retired professional ice hockey goaltender and is currently the general manager for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
's previous team record of six, accomplished in 1974–75 and 1998–99, respectively. Cloutier's mark was later surpassed by Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is of Italian and Irish ancestry. He employs the butterfly style of goaltending...
, who recorded nine shutouts in 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
. Cloutier finished his first full season with Vancouver posting 31 wins, 22 losses and 5 ties with a 2.43 GAA and .901 save percentage. He played in a career-high 62 games despite missing nine games in January and February 2002 with an ankle injury.
Entering the 2002 playoffs
2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championships of the National Hockey League, was played from April until June. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one to clinch the 10th championship in their history. It was the Hurricanes first ever appearance in the...
as the eighth seed for the second consecutive year, the Canucks faced the Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
-winning Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. With 32- and 34-save performances from Cloutier, Vancouver won the first two games of the series. In game three, the Canucks and Red Wings were tied with a minute remaining in the second period when Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidström
Nicklas Lidström
Nicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, and is their captain...
scored on Cloutier with a slapshot
Slapshot
A slapshot in ice hockey is the hardest shot. It has four stages which are executed in one fluid motion:# The player winds up his hockey stick by raising it behind his body, sometimes raising the blade to shoulder height or higher.# Next the player violently "slaps" the ice slightly behind the...
from centre ice. The goal was observed by the media as a turning point in the series for both Cloutier and the Canucks as a team. The Red Wings won game three, as well as the next three contests to eliminate the Canucks in six games; Cloutier was taken out of the game in the first period of the next two contests in favour of backup Peter Skudra.
Cloutier began the 2002–03 season by recording a shutout against the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
on October 10, 2002. It marked the first time in Canucks history that the team began the season with a shutout win. In November 2002, Cloutier won 11 of 12 games, including a team record 10 straight games, while recording a 2.15 GAA and .920 save percentage. He was named NHL Player of the Month, becoming the fourth Canucks player in team history to receive the distinction. He suffered a setback in December 2002, when he missed three games with a knee injury. On February 17, 2003, he was named NHL Player of the Week for the third time in his career. Six days later, he recorded his 30th win of the season, becoming the first Canucks goaltender in team history to reach the plateau in back-to-back years. That same week, he suffered his second knee injury of the season and missed 10 games. He returned to the lineup by mid-March to finish the season with Vancouver. After the Canucks ranked in the eighth and final playoff spot in Cloutier's first two seasons with the team, Cloutier helped lead them to within one point of the Northwest Division
Northwest Division (NHL)
The NHL's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981–1993...
title in 2002–03. In 57 games, he posted 33 wins, 16 losses and 7 ties with a 2.42 GAA and .908 save percentage. Cloutier won the first and only playoff series of his career in 2003
2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
as the Canucks eliminated the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
in seven games. He made 33 saves in the deciding contest, a 4–1 win for Vancouver. Advancing to the second round against the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, the Canucks took a three-games-to-one lead. With Vancouver needing one more win to eliminate the Wild, Cloutier was taken out of Game 5 in favour of rookie Alex Auld
Alex Auld
Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL...
after allowing six goals on 21 shots through two periods. As both teams were leaving the ice at the start of the second intermission, opposing goaltender Dwayne Roloson
Dwayne Roloson
Albert Dwayne Roloson is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career...
bumped Canucks forward Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden
Trevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
, prompting Cloutier to challenge Roloson; Cloutier threw two punches towards Roloson and received minor penalties for roughing and for leaving his crease. With Cloutier on the bench for the third period, the Canucks lost 7–2. In the following two games, Cloutier allowed nine goals on 40 shots as the Wild completed a three-game comeback to eliminate the Canucks.
In the off-season, Cloutier was re-signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 15, 2003. Nearly two months into the subsequent season, Cloutier recorded his 100th career NHL win, making 31 saves in a 3–1 victory over the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on November 27, 2003. As the season progressed, Cloutier suffered several more injuries, the first of which was a groin injury in December 2003 that sidelined him for three games. He missed three more games before the season ended with cases of the flu and a lower-body injury. On February 14, 2004, he was fined $1,000 by the league for hitting opposing forward Ronald Petrovicky
Ronald Petrovický
Ronald Petrovický is a Slovak ice hockey right wing formerly playing for Kontinental Hockey League team Dinamo Riga. He is currently with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League...
in the face with his blocker during a game against the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
.
2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup...
against the Calgary Flames, Cloutier suffered another injury, spraining his right ankle in the first period of game three. After Johan Hedberg
Johan Hedberg
Johan "Moose" Hedberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
initially replaced Cloutier, Alex Auld
Alex Auld
Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL...
filled in for the final three games of the series; Vancouver was defeated in seven games.
As initial contract negotiations failed in the off-season, Cloutier filed for arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
on July 16, 2004. Arbitration was avoided by both sides when Cloutier agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract 11 days later. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, however, Cloutier spent the season mostly inactive until signing with EC KAC
EC KAC
EC KAC is a professional ice hockey team in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. The team plays their home games in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria at Stadthalle Klagenfurt...
of the Austrian Hockey League
Austrian Hockey League
The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:...
on January 20, 2005. Replacing injured starter Andrew Verner
Andrew Verner
Andrew Verner is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He most recently played for Sheffield Steelers, in the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, he appeared in 13 games with the Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt
-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
-based team, going undefeated with a 1.94 GAA. EC KAC finished the regular season second with the second-best record in the league. Cloutier appeared in 10 additional playoff games, recording a 2.75 GAA. EC KAC advanced to the finals, where they were defeated four-games-to-three by the Vienna Capitals
Vienna Capitals
Vienna Capitals are a member of the Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games in Vienna, Austria, at Albert Schultz Eishalle.-Current roster:-References:...
.
With NHL play set to resume in 2005–06, Cloutier re-signed with the Canucks to a two-year, $5 million contract on August 18, 2005. Returning to the Canucks, he was injured early in the season during a game against the Avalanche on October 29, 2005. Attempting to check Avalanche forward Andrew Brunette
Andrew Brunette
Andrew Brunette is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Brunette grew up in the small community of Valley East, Ontario just outside of Sudbury...
, Canucks defenceman Nolan Baumgartner
Nolan Baumgartner
Nolan Baumgartner is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays within the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
collided with Cloutier, causing a goal and forcing Cloutier out of the game with both a concussion and whiplash
Whiplash (medicine)
Whiplash is a non-medical term describing a range of injuries to the neck caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck associated with extension. The term "whiplash" is a colloquialism...
. The injury caused him to miss five games. Soon after returning, Cloutier was re-injured in a game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on November 20, when forward Rob Niedermayer
Rob Niedermayer
Robert W. Niedermayer, Jr. is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for HC Lugano of the National League A in Switzerland. He also played for the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres...
skated into the crease and collided with Cloutier. He stayed in net to complete the game, a 3–2 win, and was on the bench the following game to backup Auld. However, after aggravating the knee in a practice on November 23, an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
revealed a partially-torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL). Electing for reconstructive knee surgery, occurring on December 15, Cloutier missed the remainder of the season.
As the Canucks missed the playoffs in 2006
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
, several changes were made to team personnel in the off-season. One such change included the acquisition of All-Star goaltender Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is of Italian and Irish ancestry. He employs the butterfly style of goaltending...
from the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. Shortly after Luongo was acquired, Cloutier was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on July 5, 2006, for a second-round draft pick in 2007
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...
and a conditional pick in 2009
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
. Cloutier finished his five-and-a-half-year tenure with the Canucks third on the team's all-time wins list with 109, behind Kirk McLean
Kirk McLean
Kirk Alan McLean is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
and Richard Brodeur
Richard Brodeur
Richard "King Richard, Kermit" Brodeur known to many as "King Richard", is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:...
, and second in shutouts with 14, behind McLean.
Los Angeles Kings (2006–08)
Leading up to the 2006–07 season, Cloutier signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract extension with the Kings on September 27, 2006. He had one year, valued at $2.55 million, remaining on his existing contract, which was transferred over from the Canucks. Cloutier moved to the Kings alongside head coach Marc CrawfordMarc Crawford
Marc Joseph John Crawford is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach, most recently employed by the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. He was previously the head coach of three other organizations and won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche...
, who was hired by the team shortly after being let go by the Canucks in the 2006 off-season.
Cloutier made his Kings debut in the first game of the regular season, a 4–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on October 6, 2006. He made 28 saves on 32 shots. During his first week of the regular season, he suffered a hip injury, but continued playing on the insistence of team management. In retrospect, he later recalled that his "biggest mistake was playing hurt for them." The Kings organziation also had Cloutier change his goaltender mask from the uncommon mask/cage style to the more traditional full-fibreglass style for safety and insurance purposes. After recording 6 wins in 24 games and a 3.98 GAA, Cloutier's hip forced him to end his season, aggravating it on December 23, 2006, in a 7–0 loss to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
At the time, the injury was still believed to be minor and Cloutier volunteered to continue playing in lieu of backup Mathieu Garon
Mathieu Garon
Mathieu Garon is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Garon is a goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League . Garon has also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Garon was a member...
also being sidelined with a broken finger. When the pain in his hip quickly got worse, Cloutier appealed to team management. He saw a specialist who told him the injury could put his career in jeopardy. He was subsequently flown to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
for surgery on January 12, 2007. Cloutier remained in Colorado for ongoing treatment and was lodged by the organization in a motel 50 kilometres away from the clinic. The Kings' original insistence that he play and his subsequent lodging proved to be a contentious issue for Cloutier.
Having recovered from his injury, he returned for training camp in September 2007. He was assigned to the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs
Manchester Monarchs
The Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:...
, after losing a roster spot to goaltenders Jason LaBarbera
Jason LaBarbera
Antonio Jason LaBarbera is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
and Jonathan Bernier
Jonathan Bernier
Jonathan Bernier is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League...
. During his stint with Manchester, Cloutier struggled to earn playing time, as younger goaltenders Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Quick is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Danny Taylor
Danny Taylor
Daniel Turney Taylor was a Major League Baseball outfielder from 1926-1936. He played with the Washington Senators, Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers. He died on October 11, 1972.-External links:...
and Erik Ersberg
Erik Ersberg
Erik Ersberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently with the Salavat Yulaev of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Playing career :...
were given more opportunity to play. At one point, he reported to the team's arena in preparation for a road trip, but was left in Manchester in favour of the team's other goaltenders. To Cloutier's surprise, he was recalled by Los Angeles on February 7, 2008, while Kings backup Jean-Sebastien Aubin
Jean-Sébastien Aubin
Jean-Sébastien "J. S." Aubin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the DEG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:...
was sent down in his place. After clearing re-entry waivers
Waivers (NHL)
Waivers is a National Hockey League labor management procedure by which an NHL team makes a professional ice hockey player’s contract and rights available to all other NHL teams. The term refers to the term that other NHL teams 'waive' any claim to a player designated for assignment, re-entry from...
, he joined the Kings' roster to backup LaBarbera. Three days later, Cloutier started in goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
; he recorded his first NHL win in over a year, backstopping the Kings to a 3–2 shootout victory. After LaBarbera became sidelined with a groin injury, Cloutier began earning additional playing time with the Kings. On March 10, he played against the Canucks for the first time since benig traded. He stopped 38 shots in a 2–1 overtime loss against his former teammates. Later that month, he suffered a groin injury and missed three games. Remaining with the Kings for the remainder of the 2007–08 season as backup to Ersberg, he recorded 2 wins in 9 games with a 3.44 GAA and .887 save percentage.
In the subsequent off-season, Cloutier's remaining year on his contract was bought out by the Kings on June 21, 2008. As team's cannot buyout the contract of an injured player, Cloutier claimed he was not healthy and contested the move. However, the NHL ruled in favour of the Kings; the buyout stood and Cloutier became an unrestricted free agent. Consequently, he received $2 million over the next two years from the Kings.
Without an NHL job, Cloutier took up an assistant coaching position in the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
(CHL) with his younger brother Sylvain Cloutier
Sylvain Cloutier
Sylvain Richard Cloutier is the player coach of the Hull Stingrays of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
, who had just been hired as head coach of the Corpus Christi IceRays
Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League . The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species of stingrays who...
.
Return to hockey and retirement (2009–10)
After remaining inactive for a season, Cloutier was offered a tryout with the Canucks for the team's 2009 training camp. Soon thereafter, he accepted another tryout offer from the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on September 4, 2009, sensing he had a better chance to secure a contract with the latter team. He was expected to compete with Jimmy Howard
Jimmy Howard
James "Jimmy" Russell Howard III is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
for the Wings' backup position. On September 21, Cloutier made his first and only pre-season appearance with the Red Wings, splitting a game with Wings prospect Daniel Larsson; he stopped all eight shots he faced in a 4-2 loss against the New York Rangers. While Red Wings general manager Ken Holland
Ken Holland
Kenneth Mark Holland is a retired Canadian professional goaltender and current General Manager and executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Holland was drafted in the 12th round, 188th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft...
said Cloutier "looked sharp" in his first NHL action since April 5, 2008, he also alluded to the media that the amount of goaltenders competing for spots within the Red Wings organization was a factor against the likelihood of him signing Cloutier. Three days later, he was officially released from the Red Wings.
Cloutier subsequently received several offers to play in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
until signing a tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
of the AHL in December 2009. He reportedly had received offers from two other North American teams, but chose Rockford as the best choice for his family. Cloutier made his IceHogs debut on December 6 against the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
, marking his return to professional hockey after 18 months. He played 26 minutes before receiving a match penalty for punching Moose player Guillaume Desbiens
Guillaume Desbiens
Guillaume Desbiens is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays within the Calgary Flames organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
after the opposing forward collided with him in his crease. The following day, Cloutier was additionally suspended by the AHL for one game. After serving his ban, he recorded his first win the IceDogs against the Texas Stars
Texas Stars
The Texas Stars are an American Hockey League team. They play in Cedar Park, Texas, near Austin.The team is the top affiliate of the NHL Dallas Stars. In April 2008, the Iowa Stars announced that they would no longer affiliate with the Dallas Stars, and changed the team's name to Chops for the...
on December 12. Cloutier began receiving interest from NHL teams, but his hip began acting up once again. By the end of the month, Cloutier and the IceHogs mutual agreed to terminate his tryout contract. He recorded one win and one loss in three games with the IceDogs, along with a 2.47 GAA and .893 save percentage. In a later interview, published on the Canucks' website in August 2010, Cloutier declared he was most likely retiring due to chronic injury troubles.
International play
During Cloutier's OHL career, he competed in the 1995 World Junior Championships1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 18th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with games held throughout central Alberta...
. He went undefeated in three games with a 2.67 GAA to help Canada
Canada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
win a gold medal as the host country in Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
. Cloutier missed a second opportunity to play for the Canadian national junior team the following year due to a shoulder injury suffered during OHL play.
On May 4, 2001, he was added to the Canadian men's team's roster for the 2001 World Championships
2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2002# — relegated to Division I for 2002# - Group A :Group A was played in Grenoble, France between April 16 and April 22, 2001...
. One of four goaltenders on the roster, alongside Roberto Luongo, Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...
and Fred Brathwaite
Fred Brathwaite
Fredrick Brathwaite is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers...
, he did not appear in any games. Canada finished the tournament in fifth place.
Coaching career
Following his release from the Los Angeles Kings in 2008, Cloutier joined his brother, Sylvain CloutierSylvain Cloutier
Sylvain Richard Cloutier is the player coach of the Hull Stingrays of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
's coaching staff on the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
(CHL)'s Corpus Christi IceRays
Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League . The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" moniker derives from the many different species of stingrays who...
as a de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
assistant coach. He served in that capacity for the 2008–09 season until his failed attempt at an NHL return in 2009
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
. In July 2010, Cloutier signed a one-year contract to become a part-time goaltending coach with the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
's Barrie Colts
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There were two previous Barrie Colts team which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1907 until 1910 and another from the 1920s to 1940s.-Original Colts:The...
.
Personal life
Cloutier was born to Ivan and Susan Cloutier in Mont-LaurierMont-Laurier, Quebec
Mont-Laurier is a town and incorporated municipality in northwest Quebec, Canada, located on the banks of the Rivière du Lièvre, a tributary of the Ottawa River. Known as the “Capital of the Haute-Laurentides”, the motto of the town is Laurus elationis praemium, which translates to “Lift the...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He moved with his family at a young age to Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, as a result of his father's work as a logger. Having grown up in both French and English communities, Cloutier is bilingual. Playing minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie, he was at one time on the same bantam team as another future NHL goaltender, Marty Turco
Marty Turco
Marty Turco is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has played professionally with the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. Because of his puckhandling prowess, Canadian hockey personality Don Cherry named Turco: "the smartest goalie in the...
. Like many Quebec-born goaltenders of his time, Cloutier patterned the butterfly
Butterfly style
In ice hockey, "butterfly style" is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the spread goal pads and hands to a butterfly's wings...
elements of his playing style after Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
goaltender Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
.
Cloutier and his wife Nikki, have a daughter named Kali, born in December 2007, and a son named Kane, born in June 2010. Cloutier's older brother, Sylvain was also a hockey player and was captain of the Guelph Storm of the OHL. After a professional career in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he became the head coach for the minor professional Corpus Christi IceRays of the CHL in 2008–09.
In November 2005, following Cloutier's season-ending ACL injury, a rumour began circling in the media that he was being investigated for a hit-and-run accident that killed two people outside a Gastown
Gastown
Gastown is a national historic site in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the northeast end of Downtown adjacent to the Downtown Eastside. Its historical boundaries were the waterfront , Columbia Street, Hastings Street, and Cambie Street, which were the borders of the 1870 townsite survey, the proper...
nightclub. Cloutier never commented on the record, while his agent later refuted the rumour, saying it was "Absolutely untrue" and that Cloutier "was livid with that story."
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | St. Thomas Stars St. Thomas Stars The St. Thomas Stars are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:... |
GHJHL | 14 | 823 | 80 | 5.83 | ||||||
| 1992–93 | Timmins Golden Bears | NOJHL Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario... |
5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 255 | 10 | 0 | 2.35 | ||
| 1992–93 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
12 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 572 | 44 | 0 | 4.62 | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 OHL season The 1993–94 OHL season was the 14th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The North Bay Centennials won the J... |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 55 | 28 | 14 | 6 | 2934 | 174 | 2 | 3.56 | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 OHL season The 1994–95 OHL season was the 15th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The Detroit Junior Red Wings won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm... |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 45 | 15 | 26 | 2 | 2518 | 185 | 1 | 4.41 | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 OHL season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:... |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 13 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 641 | 43 | 0 | 4.02 | ||
| 1995–96 | Guelph Storm Guelph Storm The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:... |
OHL | 17 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1004 | 35 | 2 | 2.09 | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 AHL season The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division... |
Binghamton Rangers Binghamton Rangers The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
60 | 23 | 28 | 8 | — | 3367 | 199 | 3 | 3.55 | .892 |
| 1997–98 | New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | 551 | 23 | 0 | 2.50 | .907 |
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western... |
Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford Wolf Pack The Connecticut Whale is a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They play in the American Hockey League . They play their home games at the XL Center.... |
AHL | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | — | 1417 | 62 | 0 | 2.63 | .917 |
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 22 | 6 | 8 | 3 | — | 1096 | 49 | 0 | 2.68 | .914 |
| 1999–00 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 52 | 9 | 30 | 3 | — | 2492 | 145 | 0 | 3.49 | .885 |
| 2000–01 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 24 | 3 | 13 | 3 | — | 1005 | 59 | 1 | 3.52 | .891 |
| 2000–01 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 16 | 4 | 6 | 5 | — | 914 | 37 | 0 | 2.43 | .894 |
| 2000–01 | Detroit Vipers Detroit Vipers The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:... |
IHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 59 | 3 | 0 | 3.05 | .903 |
| 2001–02 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 62 | 31 | 22 | 5 | — | 3501 | 142 | 7 | 2.43 | .901 |
| 2002–03 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 57 | 33 | 16 | 7 | — | 3376 | 136 | 2 | 2.42 | .908 |
| 2003–04 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | — | 3539 | 134 | 5 | 2.27 | .914 |
| 2004–05 | EC KAC EC KAC EC KAC is a professional ice hockey team in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. The team plays their home games in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria at Stadthalle Klagenfurt... |
AUS Austrian Hockey League The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:... |
13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | — | 722 | 25 | 1 | 1.94 | — |
| 2005–06 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 13 | 8 | 3 | — | 1 | 680 | 36 | 0 | 3.17 | .892 |
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 24 | 6 | 14 | — | 2 | 1281 | 85 | 0 | 3.98 | .860 |
| 2007–08 2007–08 AHL season The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:... |
Manchester Monarchs Manchester Monarchs The Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:... |
AHL | 14 | 4 | 9 | — | — | 719 | 42 | 0 | 3.50 | .869 |
| 2007–08 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 9 | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 247 | 28 | 0 | 3.44 | .887 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 AHL season The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11... |
Rockford IceHogs Rockford IceHogs This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home... |
AHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 146 | 6 | 0 | 2.47 | .893 |
| NHL totals | 351 | 139 | 142 | 33 | 4 | 18928 | 874 | 15 | 2.77 | .899 | ||
| AHL totals | 101 | 40 | 46 | 11 | 0 | 5649 | 309 | 3 | 3.28 | .896 | ||
| OHL totals | 142 | 68 | 51 | 10 | 7669 | 481 | 5 | 3.76 | ||||
Playoffs
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
4 | 1 | 2 | 231 | 12 | 0 | 3.12 | |
| 1994 1993–94 OHL season The 1993–94 OHL season was the 14th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The North Bay Centennials won the J... |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 14 | 10 | 4 | 833 | 52 | 0 | 3.75 | |
| 1996 1995–96 OHL season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:... |
Guelph Storm Guelph Storm The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:... |
OHL | 16 | 11 | 5 | 993 | 52 | 2 | 3.14 | |
| 1996 MC 1996 Memorial Cup The 1996 Memorial Cup occurred May 11-19 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. Participating teams were the host Peterborough Petes, who were also the champions of the Ontario Hockey League, as well as the OHL runner-up Guelph Storm, and the winners of the Quebec Major... |
Guelph Storm | CHL Canadian Hockey League The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey... |
3 | 0 | 3 | 180 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | |
| 1997 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs The 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 18, 1997. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-5 series for division semifinals and best-of-7 series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a... |
Binghamton Rangers Binghamton Rangers The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
4 | 1 | 3 | 236 | 13 | 0 | 3.31 | .893 |
| 1998 1998 Calder Cup Playoffs The 1998 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 14, 1998. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-5 series for division semifinals and best-of-7 series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a... |
Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford Wolf Pack The Connecticut Whale is a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They play in the American Hockey League . They play their home games at the XL Center.... |
AHL | 8 | 5 | 3 | 478 | 24 | 0 | 3.01 | .921 |
| 2001 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , were played from April until June. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils to win its second Stanley Cup.... |
Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 117 | 9 | 0 | 4.63 | .842 |
| 2002 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championships of the National Hockey League, was played from April until June. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one to clinch the 10th championship in their history. It was the Hurricanes first ever appearance in the... |
Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 6 | 2 | 3 | 273 | 16 | 0 | 3.51 | .870 |
| 2003 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played... |
Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 14 | 7 | 7 | 833 | 45 | 0 | 3.24 | .868 |
| 2004 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup... |
Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 138 | 5 | 0 | 2.17 | .922 |
| 2005 | EC KAC EC KAC EC KAC is a professional ice hockey team in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. The team plays their home games in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria at Stadthalle Klagenfurt... |
Aus Austrian Hockey League The Austrian Hockey League , called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.-History:... |
10 | 6 | 4 | 590 | 27 | 1 | 2.75 | |
| NHL totals | 25 | 10 | 13 | 1361 | 75 | 0 | 3.31 | .872 | ||
| AHL totals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 714 | 37 | 0 | 3.11 | .913 | ||
| OHL totals | 34 | 22 | 11 | 2057 | 116 | 2 | 3.38 | |||
International
| Year | Country | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 18th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with games held throughout central Alberta... |
Canada Jr. | WJC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 2.67 | |
| Int'l totals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 2.67 | |||
- Career statistics taken from Cloutier's TSN.ca profile.
Awards
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... Second All-Star Team |
1996 1995–96 OHL season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:... |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy Dave Pinkney Trophy The Dave Pinkney Trophy is awarded to the goaltenders of the team that has the best team goals-against-average in the Ontario Hockey League.-Winners:*2009–10 J.P. Anderson & Mickael Audette, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors... (OHL's lowest team GAA; shared with Brett Thompson Brett Thompson Brett Thompson . He is a South African cricketer who played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup for the South Africa in Sri Lanka.-References:... ) |
1996 1995–96 OHL season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:... |