I guess the 3 cups makes up for the simple fact that noone in their right mind would take Osgood before Roberto as a starter any time in their career. 

But I’ll still take the 3 cups.

Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 09/29/08 at 07:52 AM ET

The headline on the Cloutier clip is a classic:

“Nik Lidstrom Destroys Dan Cloutier’s Career”

In the overall context of this post, however, that clip tells us something very important about Chris Osgood. In spite of what his detractors may say, he—unlike Cloutier and many other NHL goaltenders—has the mental toughness and heart of a champion.

In spite of giving up goals on not just one, but two long range bombs in the 1998 playoffs, Ozzie was able to persevere and win the Stanley Cup. Then, in spite of being pushed aside by the Wings in favor of Hasek in 2001-02, he was able to eventually return and win the Cup again (ironically, replacing Hasek when he faltered).

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 09/29/08 at 08:28 AM ET

Whoever compiled that list has lost their mind. Luongo shouldn’t be anywhere near an all-time list. Good goalie yes, but the 27 best goalie to ever play the game, ridiculous.

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 09/29/08 at 08:34 AM ET

Eat IT!!

And goalies in the prime of their careers should be excluded from the list.

Posted by Osrt on 09/29/08 at 12:28 PM ET

UMFan: And Osgood should be 23?

Posted by rwhater on 09/30/08 at 06:42 PM ET

I didn’t mention Osgood. I was simply pointing out the absurdity of putting a 29 year old goalie who has only made it to the playoffs once on an all-time list. He has not accomplished enough to justify all-time status. Its akin to putting Crosby or AO on an all-time list. They don’t have the resume just yet.

But since you mentioned Osgood, I think you could argue a couple of spots up or down. Other than that, I don’t think Osgood is out of place. He’s top 15 in wins, top 20 in playoff wins, top 10 playoff shutouts, just outside top 20 in regular season shutouts, three cups (two as a starter and one as a regular season starter/playoff backup). And, if he plays reasonably well the next two years, statistically speaking, he will have accomplished what only a hand full of goalies have accomplished. Why shouldn’t Osgood be 23?

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 09/30/08 at 11:16 PM ET

Luongo is excellent, but his career is nowhere near close enough to the end to assess where he stands on such a list.  Give him another decade when he is closer to retirement and his entire body of work is a little more assessable.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/01/08 at 08:27 PM ET

I think Osgood is THE poster child for an average goaltender with statistics elevated by an outstanding team in front of him, and one committed to great team defense.  Hey, I’m rwhater for crise sakes, so it hurts to type those words.  What did he manage do when he wasn’t with the Wings?  He had an .890 save percentage with the Islanders and Blues in 2002-2003. 

I wouldn’t put him within sniffing distance of most of those names in the top 25.

Posted by rwhater on 10/03/08 at 07:18 PM ET

While you were looking up Osgood’s stats, did you happen to see 2001-02 32 win .910 save percentage with the islanders or the 2003-04 31 win .910 save percentage with the blues? Did you also notice that he has never missed the playoffs, something the great Patrick Roy or Brodeur can not say.

I always find it funny people discounting Osgood’s achievement because of how good the Wings are on defense. Hell, half of the goalies on that list are there because they had a few runs on great teams. Is Brodeur that great of a goalie or is his statistics the result of the Jersey trap defensive system? And, other than Ken Dryden’s run in 1971-72, what’s the difference between Osgood and Dryden? Dryden won all those Cups, but was playing in front of an amazing Canadian team and was only facing 18 shots a night.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t thing Osgood is the greatest goalie of his era, but I honestly don’t think he is out of place on that list. In fact, if I had to pick one goalie to start a playoff run, I’d choose Osgood over a few goalies on that list, including Moog, Belfour, Fuhr, Barrasso, and Vernon.

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 10/04/08 at 04:14 AM ET

So, if Osgood is so Osgreat, why did Babcock choose to start a completely washed up divinator over Ozzy in the playoffs last year until it was obvious the divinator was done?  Heck, the Wings have been trying to replace the little bastard for years but he just keeps coming back, like a desparate ho.  Heck, at least he learned to dive well from the divefrickenmaster. 

He’s a journeyman who has benefited from being on a great team.  And an especially great defensive team.  Put him in Vancouver and put Luongo in Detroit and watch the Canucks become the worst team in the west, and the Wings dominate even more than they have.

Posted by rwhater on 10/08/08 at 07:47 PM ET