Well if you really want my opinion......... I personally think that Cloutier has been playing fairly good this season. I can think of more than one game (can you say Edmonton) where Cloutier was the only reason that the score was even close. Part of the problem is that he has been getting, for lack of a better word, crappy defence. McCarthy and Baumgartner are no Sopel and Malik. As well, although I feel he is improving, Allen is still not yet a top 4 NHL defenceman. Not only that but they now are seriously lacking in the center postion. Ryan Kestler is young and still needs to learn more defensive resposibuility. I am still haunted by his give away during the 5 on 3 vs. Edmonton. Trever Linden, as much I love the guy hasn't played center for years and is still dusting the cob webs. Cloutier's only other loss came at the hands of Minnesota and the entire team came out flat on that one. As much as I am guilty of this right now, why don't we wait until a few more than 7 games have gone past before we start ranting about what teams need to do.