Why Is Dan Cloutier at the Detroit Red Wings' Training Camp?

The Detroit Red Wings, along with every other NHL club, opened their training camp this past weekend. Taking the ice in Traverse City, MI were new players such as Patrick Eaves, returning Wings Jason Williams and Todd Bertuzzi and young hopefuls like defenseman Jakub Kindl. For some reason, Dan Cloutier was also among those skating with the Wings. The goaltender, who has been out of hockey for the better part of two years, contacted the team last month about a tryout which resulted in an invite to training camp. But why? Why would Detroit need a guy like Cloutier at training camp when Chris Osgood is the designated No. 1 and Jimmy Howard is finally getting his shot as the backup? One might think that Cloutier will be there to "push" Howard, to make sure the youngster has the proper motivation to perform well enough to be the undisputed backup. But really, what sense does this make? Dan Cloutier can't stop a beach ball, has never won anything, and couldn't keep his ...