07/16/03
Cloutier's back
Goalie gets 1-year pact for $2.5M US

Terry Bell, The Province

CANADA.COM

The Canucks concluded an important bit of business Tuesday, signing goalie Dan Cloutier to a one-year, $2.5-million-US deal.

It was a busy day.

The Canucks also signed defenceman Marek Malik, 28, to a two-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

And sources said deals for defenceman Sami Salo, 28, and forward Mats Lindgren, 28, were all but done.

Salo will get a two-year deal; Lindgren a one-year.

And, no, Cloutier, 27, does not feel like he has one season to prove himself or get out of town.

That question was posed Tuesday, although more delicately.

"I haven't looked at it that way, I just wanted to get a deal done," said Cloutier, who had a strong regular season and a frustrating post-season in 2002-03.

"I didn't pay much attention to my contract until the last week or so but then I called my agent Roland Thompson and said, 'Let's get this deal done as quick as possible.' I was happy with what my agent brought me. I was ecstatic."

After earning $1.125 million US last season, he should be.

"We were happy with the one-year deal. Maybe they were happy with a one-year deal, but we certainly wanted a one-year deal."

That would mean no arbitration, for Cloutier, Salo or Malik, a pleasant thought for all concerned.

Players had until 9 p.m. to file for arbitration.

"I didn't want to go arbitration," said Cloutier.

"I'm a pretty emotional type of guy and everyone knows what arbitration is like. I really wanted to get it over with and focus on my training instead of worrying about my contract. It's a great feeling to have it done."

Cloutier had no qualms about signing on for another tour of duty in a city where some observers had questioned his future after a second straight disappointing playoff.

After a 33-16-7 regular season with a 2.42 goals against average, the Quebecer went 9-12 in the playoffs with a 3.24 GAA and an ugly .868 saves percentage. The knives were quickly out.

"The first day I got traded here they said this was going to be a goalie graveyard," said Cloutier.

"But people have been very supportive. I enjoy it here in Vancouver. It's where I make my home.

"Even though there's a lot of pressure and people are pointing the finger, that's part of hockey.

"I could be playing somewhere else and nobody would care about the team or how I did. It's great to play in this city because everyone pays so much attention."

Now Dan the Man gets a year in which to put it all together.

If he does, he'll be able to hit a home run next summer, when he will once again have arbitration rights should negotiations fall through.