Dan Cloutier

Lore & Background

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.

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 NHL career, he served as an assistant coach to his older brother Sylvain with the Corpus Christi IceRays of the Central Hockey League and later became a goaltending coach for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He currently holds an executive position with the OHL's Guelph Storm.

Junior Pathway and the 1994 Draft

Daniel Cloutier's journey to professional hockey began in the Ontario Hockey League, where he spent four seasons split between the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Guelph Storm. As a 15-year-old, he first played Junior B with the St. Thomas Stars before stepping up to the OHL in 1992–93. His early years with Sault Ste.

Marie included a run to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals in 1993, where the Greyhounds fell to the Peterborough Petes, though they still earned a Memorial Cup berth as hosts. Cloutier assumed the starting role in 1993–94, posting a 3.56 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. His junior career was marked by a shoulder injury in 1995–96 that led to a trade to Guelph, where he helped the Storm post the league's lowest GAA and earned OHL Second All-Star Team honours. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him third among North American goaltenders, and the New York Rangers selected him 26th overall in the 1994 entry draft.

Vancouver Peak and a Distinctive Style

Cloutier's decade in the NHL spanned four franchises, but it was in Vancouver where he truly found his stride. Acquired by the Canucks in February 2001, he went on to record three consecutive 30-win seasons from 2001–02 through 2003–04, establishing himself as a dependable netminder. His goaltending style blended butterfly and stand-up techniques, giving him a versatile approach suited to different game situations. Perhaps most memorably, Cloutier was one of the few active NHLers to wear the distinctive birdcage-style helmet, a look that set him apart from the full-masked norm of his era.

Before Vancouver, he had spent three seasons in the Rangers organization, including time in the AHL with Binghamton and Hartford, before earning a full-time NHL role in 1998–99 as a backup to Mike Richter. A brief stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning followed before the Canucks deal. Internationally, he contributed to Canada's gold-medal team at the 1995 World Junior Championship and served as a fourth-string goalie at the 2001 IIHF World Championship.

Decline, Comeback, and the End of a Career

The latter chapter of Cloutier's playing career was defined by physical decline and persistent injury. After his strong Vancouver years, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2006 off-season, but the move proved ill-fated. Struggles with injuries and a noticeable drop in performance marked his time in Los Angeles, and the Kings ultimately bought out his contract following the 2007–08 season. Rather than retire quietly, Cloutier made a determined attempt to resurrect his career in 2009.

He first signed a tryout agreement to attend the Detroit Red Wings' training camp, hoping to earn a roster spot. When that path did not materialize, he turned to the American Hockey League, playing briefly for the Rockford IceHogs. However, chronic injury problems that had plagued him for years proved insurmountable, and he was forced to retire. The trajectory from a 30-win NHL goaltender to a player battling chronic ailments in the minors underscored how quickly a goaltending career can unravel when the body simply will not cooperate.

Coaching, Executive Work, and the OHL Full Circle

Cloutier's connection to the Ontario Hockey League extends well beyond his playing days. After his playing career ended, he first served as an assistant coach to his older brother Sylvain with the Corpus Christi IceRays of the Central Hockey League for one season. He then transitioned into a goaltending coaching role with the Barrie Colts of the OHL, applying his netminding expertise to develop the next generation of young goalies.

His current position as an executive with the Guelph Storm—the very team where he completed his junior career and earned OHL All-Star honours—completes a remarkable full circle. Cloutier's path from a 15-year-old Junior B player in St. Thomas, through four OHL seasons, a 26th-overall draft pick, a decade in the NHL, and back to the OHL as a coach and executive, illustrates a deep and enduring commitment to the league that shaped his early career. His birdcage helmet and hybrid goaltending style remain memorable touches from a career built on steady, reliable production.

Reader's Guide

Cloutier's NHL career was marked by his most successful years with the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded three consecutive 30-win seasons between 2001–02 and 2003–04. He was acquired by the Canucks in February 2001 and enjoyed his peak performance there. In the 2006 off-season, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, where he struggled with injuries and a decline in play. His contract was bought out by the Kings following the 2007–08 season.

An attempted comeback in 2009 included a tryout with the Detroit Red Wings and a brief stint with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs before he retired due to chronic injury problems. Cloutier's playing style combined butterfly and stand-up goaltending, and he was known for wearing the uncommon birdcage-style helmet. His legacy includes being a reliable starter for Vancouver during his prime years, though injuries curtailed his effectiveness later in his career.

Did You Know?

• Cloutier fought opposing goaltender Tommy Salo during a game between the Rangers and Islanders on April 4, 1998.
• He won the Dave Pinkney Trophy jointly with Brett Thompson for the lowest goals against average in the OHL in 1995–96.