Kings place Dan Cloutier on waivers

[TheBadOne 0]

I think that at his highest potential, Cloutier is a starter in the NHL.

That said...

1. He hasn't played two full seasons since the lock out because he's been marred with injuries.

2. Despite being a competitive player, he has a tendency to take games off, which isn't going to cut it in the big leagues.

A full year in the minors will be good for him at this point. It will give him the chance to get back into the game at a slower level, so next year at this time, he can contend for a NHL job with the Kings, or at least showcase himself in the preseason of 08-09 to get onto another team's roster. I remember Dwayne Roloson spending a year in the minors after being a backup in Buffalo, and he went on to be a starter for both Minnesota and Edmonton.

And if that doesn't work out for him, then I see that as more of a personal problem rather than him being untalented.

[eva unit zero 271]

I think that at his highest potential, Cloutier is a starter in the NHL.

That said...

1. He hasn't played two full seasons since the lock out because he's been marred with injuries.

2. Despite being a competitive player, he has a tendency to take games off, which isn't going to cut it in the big leagues.

A full year in the minors will be good for him at this point. It will give him the chance to get back into the game at a slower level, so next year at this time, he can contend for a NHL job with the Kings, or at least showcase himself in the preseason of 08-09 to get onto another team's roster. I remember Dwayne Roloson spending a year in the minors after being a backup in Buffalo, and he went on to be a starter for both Minnesota and Edmonton.

And if that doesn't work out for him, then I see that as more of a personal problem rather than him being untalented.

Dwayne Roloson was in the minors behind Dominik Hasek and Martin Biron; both of whom are starters. Cloutier is now in the minors behind Jason Labarbera and Jean-Sebastien Aubin...both of whom are journeymen who have yet to prove themselves as capable NHL netminders. Oh, and Cloutier has NEVER been a true starter in the NHL. By true starter, I mean he has never been one of the 30 best goalies in the league. Never, not once. And he's on his way down...so he never will be, either.