| Dan Cloutier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Cloutier in 2005 with the Canucks | |||
| Born | (1976-04-22)April 22, 1976 (age 48) Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers Tampa Bay Lightning Vancouver Canucks EC KAC Los Angeles Kings | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 26th overall,1994 New York Rangers | ||
| Playing career | 1996–2009 | ||
Daniel Cloutier (born April 22, 1976) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeygoaltender. In his 10-yearNational Hockey League (NHL) career, Cloutier played with theNew York Rangers,Tampa Bay Lightning,Vancouver Canucks andLos Angeles Kings, spending the majority of his career in Vancouver. He employed a combination of bothbutterfly andstand-up goaltending and was known for wearing the uncommonbirdcage style helmet.
Cloutier playedjunior hockey in theOntario Hockey League (OHL) for four seasons with theSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds andGuelph Storm, making twoMemorial Cup appearances in1993 and1996. Following his second OHL season, he was selected 26th overall by the Rangers in the1994 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 in1998–99. 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 between2001–02 and2003–04. 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 theDetroit Red Wings at the team's training camp, then played briefly with the AHL'sRockford IceHogs, before retiring due to chronic injury problems. Internationally, Cloutier was part of twoCanadian teams. He won a gold medal at the1995 World Junior Championship and was a fourth-string goaltender at the2001 IIHF World Championship.
After his time with the Kings, Cloutier served as an assistant coach to his older brother,Sylvain, with theCorpus Christi IceRays of theCentral Hockey League for one season. Following his retirement, he became a goaltending coach for theBarrie Colts of the OHL.
As a 15-year-old, Cloutier played Junior B with theSt. Thomas Stars of theWestern Ontario Hockey League (WOHL). He recorded a 5.83goals against average (GAA) over 14 games in his lone season with the team in 1991–92.
Thefollowing season, Cloutier began a four-year career in theOntario Hockey League (OHL), debuting with theSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He played in 12 games (4–6–0)[notes 1] 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 theJ. Ross Robertson Cup Finals. Although they lost the league championship to thePeterborough Petes four-games-to-one, the Greyhounds still qualified for the1993 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 starterKevin Hodson.[1] During his rookie season in the OHL, he also played in five games at the Junior A level with theTimmins Golden Bears of theNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey Association.
Cloutier assumed the starting position with the Greyhounds in1993–94, posting 28 wins, 14 losses and 6 ties, along with a 3.56 GAA and .890save percentage. Appearing in an additional 14 playoff games, he led the Greyhounds to the OHL semifinals, where they were defeated by theDetroit Jr. Red Wings.
In the off-season, Cloutier was selected by theNew York Rangers 26th overall in the1994 NHL Entry Draft. He was the third-ranked goaltender playing in North America by theNHL Central Scouting Bureau and the fourth goaltender taken in the draft.[2] Appearing in his first NHL training camp in September 1994, he was returned to the OHL by the middle of the month.[3]
During his third junior season in1994–95, Cloutier recorded a 4.41 GAA in 45 games (15–26–2).[4] 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.[5]
Despite his NHL contract, Cloutier remained in the OHL for the1995–96 season. In his 12th game of the season with Sault Ste. Marie, he suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two months.[6] During his return to the lineup in a game against theWindsor Spitfires on January 2, 1996, he reaggravated the injury.[1] While continuing to recover, he was dealt to theGuelph Storm at the trade deadline on January 10 in exchange for goaltenderAndy Adams and two draft picks.[1] Splitting the campaign between the Greyhounds and Storm, he recorded a 2.85 GAA in 30 games.[4] As the Storm finished the season with lowest GAA in the league, Cloutier and backupBrett Thompson were jointly awarded theDave 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 the1996 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.[4]
Cloutier began his professional career in1996–97 with theBinghamton Rangers of theAmerican 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.[7] The following season, New York changed their AHL affiliate to theHartford Wolf Pack; Cloutier was consequently moved to Hartford for the club's inaugural season in1998–99. By late-December 1998, he earned a call-up to the Rangers as backup goaltenderJason Muzzatti was demoted to the Wolf Pack.[8] At the time of his call-up, Rangers management established that although he would play backup toMike 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 bothbutterfly andstand-up goaltending.[8]
He appeared in his first NHL game on January 3, 1998, replacing Richter seven minutes into a contest against theWashington Capitals. Cloutier stopped all 16 shots he faced to record his first NHL victory by a 3–2 score.[9] He made his first NHL start the following game against theCarolina Hurricanes on January 6, 1998. Stopping 26 shots, he helped the Rangers to a 4–2 win.[10] 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.[4] Perhaps his most well-known performance as a Ranger was during a game against theNew York Islanders on April 4, 1998, in which hefought opposing goalieTommy 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.[11]
In the 1998 off-season, the Rangers signed goaltenderKay Whitmore who Cloutier competed with to retain his backup position.[12] Whitmore spent the season in the minors as Cloutier was kept on the Rangers roster in1998–99.[13] 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.[4]
The following off-season, Cloutier was traded on the day of the1999 NHL Entry Draft (June 26, 1999) to theTampa Bay Lightning. He was sent to Tampa Bay, along with wingerNiklas Sundstrom, a first-round selection (Nikita Alexeev) in2000 and a third-round selection (subsequently traded) in 2000, for the Lightning's first-round selection in that year's draft (Pavel Brendl).[4] With the departure of Tampa Bay's previous starter,Bill Ranford, to theDetroit Red Wings andDarren 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.[7] On January 14, 2000, he was suspended by the league for four games after an incident with Islanders forwardTim 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.[14] The following month, he re-strained his groin on February 21 and missed four games.[7] Cloutier missed another four contests beginning on March 14 after injuring his neck.[7] His fourth injury of the season occurred on March 28, when he strained hismedial collateral ligament (MCL) and missed five games.[7] He finished the1999–2000 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, in2000–01, as Cloutier was sidelined for nine games early in the season after straining hisbiceps on October 22, 2000.[7] After recovering, he recorded his first NHLshutout, 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.[15] During that month, head coachSteve Ludzik began playing backupKevin Weekes in favour of Cloutier. By the trade deadline, Cloutier was dealt to theVancouver Canucks on February 7, 2001, in exchange for defencemanAdrian Aucoin and a second-round selection in the2001 draft.[16]
Upon arriving in Vancouver, Cloutier began sharing starts with veteran goaltenderBob Essensa; the Canucks' third goaltender,Félix Potvin, was traded away to theLos Angeles Kings soon after Cloutier's acquisition.[17] Playing in 16 games with the Canucks to close out the2000–01 season, Cloutier recorded 4 wins, 6 losses and 5 ties, along with a 2.43 GAA and .894 save percentage. He joined the Canucks at the end of the season, during the playoff drive, when the Canucks barely made the playoffs. It would be their first playoffs in 5 seasons. They were the last placed team at 90 points, tied with the Phoenix Coyotes, who also ended the season with 90 points. However, the Canucks won one more game than the Coyotes (36 vs. 35) thus gaining the last playoff spot.
Playing the first-seededColorado 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, including the game-winner in the final minute after an ill-advised poke-check attempt, Essensa was given the start over Cloutier for the following two contests. After Essensa suffered a knee injury in game three,[18] Cloutier was back in net for the fourth and final game of the series, a 5–1 loss.[19] 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 captainMarkus Näslund, wingerTodd Bertuzzi and defencemenEd Jovanovski andMattias Öhlund.[20]
During the off-season, both Canucks goaltenders became free agents. Cloutier was re-signed on July 18, 2001,[21] while Essensa agreed to a contract with theBuffalo Sabres.[22] With Essensa's departure, Cloutier established himself as the team's starting goaltender in2001–02. He notched his first shutout as a Canuck on October 13, 2001, in a 4–0 win against the Avalanche.[23] The following month, Cloutier was named NHL Player of the Week on November 6, 2001.[24] He earned a second such distinction near the end of the season on March 18, 2002.[24] 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 surpassedGary Smith andGarth Snow's previous team record of six, accomplished in1974–75 and1998–99, respectively. Cloutier's mark was later surpassed byRoberto Luongo, who recorded nine shutouts in2008–09.[25] 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.[21]
Entering the2002 playoffs as the eighth seed for the second consecutive year, the Canucks faced thePresidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings in the opening round. With 32- and 34-save performances from Cloutier, the Canucks won the first two games of the series in Detroit.[26][27] In game three, the Canucks and Red Wings were tied with a minute remaining in the second period when Red Wings defencemanNicklas Lidström scored on Cloutier with aslapshot from centre ice.[28] The goal was observed by the media as a turning point in the series for both Cloutier and the Canucks as a team.[29] 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 backupPeter Skudra.[30]
Cloutier began the2002–03 season by recording a shutout against theCalgary Flames on October 10, 2002. It marked the first time in Canucks history that the team began the season with a shutout win.[24] In November 2002, Cloutier won 11 of 12 games, including a team record 10 straight games,[31] 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.[24] He suffered a setback in December 2002, when he missed three games with a knee injury.[21] On February 17, 2003, he was named NHL Player of the Week for the third time in his career.[24] 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.[24] That same week, he suffered his second knee injury of the season and missed 10 games.[21] He returned to the lineup by mid-March to finish the season with Vancouver.[21] 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 theNorthwest Division title in2002–03. 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 in2003 as the Canucks eliminated theSt. Louis Blues in seven games. He made 33 saves in the deciding contest, a 4–1 win for Vancouver.[32] Advancing to the second round against theMinnesota 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 rookieAlex 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 goaltenderDwayne Roloson bumped Canucks forwardTrevor 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.[33] In the following two games, Cloutier allowed nine goals on 40 shots as the Wild completed a three-game comeback to eliminate the Canucks.[34][35]
In the off-season, Cloutier was re-signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on July 15, 2003.[21][36] Nearly two months into thesubsequent season, Cloutier recorded his 100th career NHL win, making 31 saves in a 3–1 victory over theOttawa Senators on November 27, 2003.[37] 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.[21] He missed three more games before the season ended with cases of the flu and a lower-body injury.[21] On February 14, 2004, he was fined $1,000 by the league for hitting opposing forwardRonald Petrovický in the face with his blocker during a game against theAtlanta Thrashers.[38]
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.[39] 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 the2004 playoffs against the Calgary Flames, Cloutier suffered another injury, spraining his right ankle in the first period of game three.[40] AfterJohan 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 forarbitration on July 16, 2004.[21] Arbitration was avoided by both sides when Cloutier agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract 11 days later.[36] Due to the2004–05 NHL lockout, however, Cloutier spent the season mostly inactive until signing withEC KAC of theAustrian Hockey League on January 20, 2005.[21] Replacing injured starterAndrew Verner,[41] he appeared in 13 games with theKlagenfurt-based team, going undefeated with a 1.94 GAA. EC KAC finished the regular season second with the second-best record in the league.[42] 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 theVienna Capitals.
With NHL play set to resume in2005–06, Cloutier re-signed with the Canucks to a two-year, $5 million contract on August 18, 2005.[43] 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 forwardAndrew Brunette, Canucks defencemanNolan Baumgartner collided with Cloutier, causing a goal and forcing Cloutier out of the game with both aconcussion andwhiplash.[44] The injury caused him to miss five games.[21] Soon after returning, Cloutier was re-injured in a game against theMighty Ducks of Anaheim on November 20, when forwardRob 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, anMRI revealed a partially tornanterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Electing for reconstructive knee surgery, occurring on December 15, Cloutier missed the remainder of the season.[45]
As the Canucks missed the playoffs in2006, several changes were made to team personnel in the off-season. One such change included the acquisition ofAll-Star goaltenderRoberto Luongo from theFlorida Panthers. Shortly after Luongo was acquired, Cloutier was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on July 5, 2006, for a second-round draft pick in2007 and a conditional pick in2009.[39] Cloutier finished his five-and-a-half-year tenure with the Canucks third on the team's all-time wins list with 109, behindKirk McLean andRichard Brodeur,[46] and second in shutouts with 14, behind McLean.[47] In a 2012 interview following his retirement, Cloutier stated that he "loved playing in Vancouver the most" during his NHL career. He recalled the city's regeneration into a hockey market and described how the team went from playing home games that "seemed half full" to creating a "playoff game atmosphere every night."[48]
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Leading up to the2006–07 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.[49] Cloutier moved to the Kings alongside Head CoachMarc Crawford, 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.[50] During his first week of the regular season, he suffered a hip injury, but continued playing on the insistence of team management.[51] In retrospect, he later recalled that his "biggest mistake was playing hurt for them."[29] The Kings organization also had Cloutier change hisgoaltender mask from the uncommon mask/cage style to the more traditional full-fibreglass style for safety and insurance purposes.[51] 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 theNashville Predators.[52]
At the time, the injury was still believed to be minor and Cloutier volunteered to continue playing in lieu of backupMathieu 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 diagnosed him with a tornhip labrum and told him the injury could put his career in jeopardy.[48] He was subsequently flown toColorado for surgery on January 12, 2007.[51][52] Cloutier remained in Colorado for ongoing treatment and was lodged by the organization in a motel 31 miles away from the clinic.[51] The Kings' original insistence that he play and his subsequent lodging proved to be a contentious issue for Cloutier.[51]
Having recovered from his injury, he returned for training camp in September 2007. He was assigned to the Kings' AHL affiliate, theManchester Monarchs, after losing a roster spot to goaltendersJason LaBarbera andJonathan Bernier. During his stint with Manchester, Cloutier struggled to earn playing time,[51] as younger goaltendersJonathan Quick,Danny Taylor andErik Ersberg were given more opportunity to play.[53] 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.[51][54] To Cloutier's surprise,[51] he was recalled by Los Angeles on February 7, 2008, while Kings backupJean-Sébastien Aubin was sent down in his place.[55] After clearingre-entry waivers, he joined the Kings' roster to backup LaBarbera. Three days later, Cloutier started in goal against theColumbus Blue Jackets; he recorded his first NHL win in over a year, backstopping the Kings to a 3–2 shootout victory.[56] 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 being traded.[54] He stopped 38 shots in a 2–1 overtime loss against his former teammates.[57] Later that month, he suffered a groin injury and missed three games.[21] Remaining with the Kings for the remainder of the 2007–08 season as backup to Ersberg,[51] he recorded two wins in nine 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.[58] As teams cannot buyout the contract of an injured player, Cloutier claimed he was not healthy and contested the move.[59] However, the NHL ruled in favour of the Kings; the buyout stood and Cloutier became anunrestricted free agent.[60] Consequently, he received $2 million over the next two years from the Kings.[59]
Without an NHL job, Cloutier took up an assistant coaching position in theCentral Hockey League (CHL) with his older brotherSylvain Cloutier, who had just been hired as head coach of theCorpus Christi IceRays.[61]
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 theDetroit Red Wings on September 4, 2009, sensing he had a better chance to secure a contract with the latter team.[62] He was expected to compete withJimmy Howard for the Wings' backup position.[63] On September 21, Cloutier made his first and only pre-season appearance with the Red Wings, splitting a game with Wings prospectDaniel Larsson; he stopped all eight shots he faced in a 4–2 loss against the New York Rangers.[64] While Red Wings General ManagerKen 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.[65] Three days later, he was officially released from the Red Wings.[66]
Cloutier subsequently received several offers to play in Europe until signing a tryout contract with theRockford 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 theManitoba Moose, marking his return to professional hockey after 18 months. He played 26 minutes before receiving a match penalty for punching Moose playerGuillaume Desbiens after the opposing forward collided with him in his crease. The following day, Cloutier was additionally suspended by the AHL for one game.[67] After serving his ban, he recorded his first win the IceHogs against theTexas Stars on December 12. Cloutier began receiving interest from NHL teams, but his hip began acting up once again.[68] By the end of the month, Cloutier and the IceHogs mutually agreed to terminate his tryout contract. He recorded one win and one loss in three games with the IceHogs, along with a 2.47 GAA and .893 save percentage.[69] In a later interview, published on the Canucks' website in August 2010, Cloutier declared he was most likely retiring due to chronic injury troubles.[29]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| RepresentingCanada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 1995 Canada | |
During Cloutier's OHL career, he competed in the1995 World Junior Championships. He went undefeated in three games with a 2.67 GAA to helpCanada win a gold medal as the host country inRed 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.[1]
On May 4, 2001, he was added toTeam Canada's roster for the2001 World Championships.[24] One of four goaltenders on the roster, alongside Roberto Luongo,Jean-Sébastien Giguère andFred Brathwaite,[70] he did not appear in any games.[71] Canada finished the tournament in fifth place.[72]
Following his release from the Los Angeles Kings in2008, Cloutier joined his brotherSylvain Cloutier's coaching staff on theCentral Hockey League (CHL)'sCorpus Christi IceRays as ade facto assistant coach.[61] He served in that capacity for the 2008–09 season until his failed attempt at an NHL return in2009. In July 2010, Cloutier signed a one-year contract to become a part-time goaltending coach with the OHL'sBarrie Colts.[29]
In September 2012, Cloutier was hired by the Vancouver Canucks as a goaltending consultant, mostly to work with prospect goaltenders in the AHL'sChicago Wolves. On June 14, 2016, the Canucks announced that Cloutier had been named the team's goaltending coach[73] During the 2018 off-season, former Canucks goaltending coach Ian Clark returned to the team and Cloutier was reassigned to be a development coach for Vancouver.[74] On September 11, 2019, after one season in his new role, Cloutier left the organization for personal reasons.[75]
Cloutier was born to Ivan and Susan Cloutier inMont-Laurier,Quebec.[61] He moved with his family at a young age toSault Ste. Marie, Ontario,[61] as a result of his father's work as a logger.[8] Having grown up in both French and English communities, Cloutier is bilingual.[8] Cloutier's older brother, Sylvain is also a hockey player who once captained the OHL's Guelph Storm. After a professional career with the Coventry Blaze in England, Sylvain became a head coach for the minor professional Corpus Christi IceRays of the CHL in 2008. He later served as a player-coach of theHull Stingrays of theElite Ice Hockey League.
As a youth, Cloutier played in the 1990Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with aminor ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie.[76] He was at one time on the same bantam team[notes 2] as another future NHL goaltender,Marty Turco.[31] Like many Quebec-born goaltenders of his time, Cloutier patterned thebutterfly elements of his playing style afterHall of Fame goaltenderPatrick Roy.[31][77]
Cloutier and his wife Nikki, have a daughter and a son together.[51][68] Following his playing career, his family moved toBarrie, Ontario.[48]
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 aGastown 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."[78]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1991–92 | St. Thomas Stars | WOHL | 14 | — | — | — | — | 823 | 80 | — | 5.83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Timmins Golden Bears | NOJHL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 255 | 10 | 0 | 2.35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 12 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 572 | 44 | 0 | 4.62 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 231 | 12 | 0 | 3.12 | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 55 | 28 | 14 | 6 | — | 2934 | 174 | 2 | 3.56 | .890 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 833 | 52 | 0 | 3.75 | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 45 | 15 | 26 | 2 | — | 2518 | 185 | 1 | 4.41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 13 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — | 641 | 43 | 0 | 4.02 | .892 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Guelph Storm | OHL | 17 | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | 1004 | 35 | 2 | 2.09 | .927 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 993 | 52 | 2 | 3.14 | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Guelph Storm | MC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 180 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | .887 | ||
| 1996–97 | Binghamton Rangers | AHL | 60 | 23 | 28 | 8 | — | 3367 | 199 | 3 | 3.55 | .892 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 236 | 13 | 0 | 3.31 | .893 | ||
| 1997–98 | New York Rangers | NHL | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | 551 | 23 | 0 | 2.50 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | — | 1417 | 62 | 0 | 2.63 | .917 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 478 | 24 | 0 | 3.01 | .921 | ||
| 1998–99 | New York Rangers | NHL | 22 | 6 | 8 | 3 | — | 1096 | 49 | 0 | 2.68 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 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 | NHL | 16 | 4 | 6 | 5 | — | 914 | 37 | 0 | 2.43 | .894 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 117 | 9 | 0 | 4.63 | .842 | ||
| 2000–01 | Detroit Vipers | 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 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 273 | 16 | 0 | 3.51 | .870 | ||
| 2002–03 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 57 | 33 | 16 | 7 | — | 3376 | 136 | 2 | 2.42 | .908 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 833 | 45 | 0 | 3.24 | .868 | ||
| 2003–04 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | — | 3539 | 134 | 5 | 2.27 | .914 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 138 | 5 | 0 | 2.17 | .922 | ||
| 2004–05 | EC KAC | AUT | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | — | 722 | 25 | 1 | 1.94 | .937 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 590 | 27 | 1 | 2.74 | .913 | ||
| 2005–06 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 13 | 8 | 3 | — | 1 | 680 | 36 | 0 | 3.17 | .892 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 24 | 6 | 14 | — | 2 | 1281 | 85 | 0 | 3.98 | .860 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 14 | 4 | 9 | 0 | — | 719 | 42 | 0 | 3.50 | .869 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 9 | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 247 | 28 | 0 | 3.44 | .887 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 146 | 6 | 0 | 2.47 | .893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 351 | 139 | 142 | 33 | 4 | 18,928 | 874 | 15 | 2.77 | .899 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 1361 | 75 | 0 | 3.31 | .872 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Canada | WJC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 2.67 | .905 | |
| Junior totals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 8 | 0 | 2.67 | .905 | |||
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| CHLMemorial Cup Champion | 1992–1993[79] |
| World Junior Championship Gold Medal | 1994–1995[79] |
| AHL All-Rookie Team | 1996–1997[79] |
| AHL Player of The Week | 1996–1997, 1997-1998[79] |
| OHL Second All-Star Team | 1996[21] |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy (OHL's lowest team GAA; shared withBrett Thompson) | 1996[21] |
| Preceded by | New York Rangers first round draft pick 1994 | Succeeded by |