Faceoff Factor

Kings Goalie Cloutier Placed on Waivers

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Sep 21, 02:07 PM | Hype this story!

The Los Angeles Kings have placed much-maligned goaltender Dan Cloutier on waivers on Friday.

Cloutier will easily pass through waivers thanks to his $6.2 million cap hit spread over the next two seasons. Should the Kings demote him to Manchester (AHL) he will no longer count against the Kings’ salary cap.

The Kings cut ties with a number of goalies this offseason. They did not qualify Barry Brust or Yutaka Fukufuji, they were not able to sign unsigned draft choice Matt Zaba, they let Mathieu Garon go to unrestricted free agency and Sean Burke retired.

They replenished their goaltending ranks only slightly by adding former Penguin and Leaf Jean Sebastien Aubin.

The Kings have a gem waiting in the wings however, former first round pick Jonathan Bernier. Bernier was considered one of the best, if not the best goalie in the QMJHL last season. However the Kings may be reluctant to throw Bernier, who just turned 19 last month, into a still-rebuilding team.

Bernier, who was sensational as Canada’s goalie in the Super Series, says he’s ready for the job. “I learned a lot last year and I’m ready for this. I don’t want to go back to juniors. My focus is to play here (Los Angeles).”

Head coach Marc Crawford hasn’t made up his mind on the situation quite yet either. “…I praise him because he’s really made our jobs difficult, which is what you like from a young guy.”

The Kings now also have the cap space to go out and grab an unrestricted free agent goaltender as well, or make a trade. Andrew Raycroft and Ilya Bryzgalov are both on the trade block, while Mika Noronen and Curtis Joseph are still looking for work.

More on this story as it develops.