Osgood was phenomenal in these finals, and this is coming from someone who previously considered him the worst starter in the NHL. I’m changing my mind, though.

Posted by steve on 06/12/09 at 11:00 PM ET

Oh yeah, and this author is dead-on that Hudler was useless.

Posted by steve on 06/12/09 at 11:01 PM ET

Osgood was not the reason why we lost.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/12/09 at 11:17 PM ET

Hey, it’s a free country and I can blame whever the flip I want to.  I choose to blame osbad.  I choose to blame the officiating.  I choose to blame lackluster play by a host of Red Wings.  It’s how I deal with it.

16 to 12 Bitches - WE WILL BE BACK

ME

Posted by 13datsyukfan13 from Mid Michigan on 06/12/09 at 11:28 PM ET

Hey, it’s a free country and I can blame whever the flip I want to.  I choose to blame osbad.  I choose to blame the officiating.  I choose to blame lackluster play by a host of Red Wings.  It’s how I deal with it.

16 to 12 Bitches - WE WILL BE BACK

Well, I dig the enthusiasm if nothing else. And I agree, we will be back.

But ‘Osbad’? He was, start to finish, the Wings best player in the playoffs. Next April, if he’s between the pipes and Tick Tock is still in the front office, we can start all this crazy again.

Chris Osgood. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. Class of 2013.

Posted by Krebstar on 06/12/09 at 11:38 PM ET

Coming from an anti-pitt perspective and therefore wanting detroit to prevail, i still don’t get taking abdikater and leino out as that line had energy and was scoring. obviously dats has to come back when he’s healthy, but maltby, draper? the kids should have stayed together as a line. and osgood’s play on the second goal was abysmal. still, ozzie had a great series. hall of fame? give me a break. had he won tonite? maybe.
and is hossa gonna lose out on his supposed long-term deal with the wings after his less than stellar finals? or is he just bad luck, playing for losing teams two years in a row?

Posted by Alan from NYC on 06/12/09 at 11:47 PM ET

ozzie had a great series. hall of fame? give me a break. had he won tonite? maybe.

So, you find it reasonable to decide HOF credentials based upon one game. A game where the player in question, a goalie, gave up one not-so-great goal? So if that puck had hit the crossbar an inch lower and one of the Wings would have scored in overtime, then he is a HOF goalie?

Look at his numbers, his longevity and his performance in money games (and yes, include tonight). Chris Osgood should be HOF bound. Now, seeing how the NHL conducts it’s business…

Posted by Krebstar on 06/13/09 at 12:04 AM ET

I choose to blame osbad.

Well you sir are an idiot.

And to Alan, I sort of agree with you but sort of don’t.  I agree that they shouldn’t have taken Abby and Leino out, but I don’t fault Draper and Maltby.  Hell, they were a bright spot tonight, they had the type of energy that Detroit needed.  But I sure would’ve loved to see a Helm/Abby/Leino line.

Me?  I woulda taken out Hudler for sure.  He was abysmal.  And probably Holmstrom.  I love what he’s given to theis team, but if anyone is old, tired and rundown on Detroit, he is it!

And honestly, I don’t know if his play has cost Hossa a long term deal, but I kinda hope it has.  He played well during the first three rounds even if it didn’t show up on the score sheet, but he was not very good in Detroit and downright shit in Pittsburgh.

I accepted him as a one-year rental when we signed him, because we could afford him without losing anything we weren’t already losing (Drake), but I don’t want him signing long term and forcing us to dump some huge salary.  To think of who we would have to dump in order to accomodate him makes me shudder.

I loved Hossa for 82 regular season games and 3 playoff series, but I don’t want Detroit to break the bank to sign him.  I feel bad for him that he hasn’t gotten his cup, but I kinda think he needs to make his big money contract now. 

Elsewhere.  I wish him the best while he’s wearing another sweater next season.

I think there need to be some changes, I think having Ericsson, Helm, Leino and possibly Abdelkader up for good is a decent start, but it’s only a start.  At the same time, I don’t think there needs to be a blowup of the team to do it.

Posted by Garth on 06/13/09 at 12:08 AM ET

Honestly...Osgood wasn’t really challenged not just this series but most of the other series.  Most of the middle was blocked out meaning the shots were going to come from either the sides or behind the net.  If detroit’s defense was worse osgood would’ve been regular season osgood.

Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 06/13/09 at 12:49 AM ET

Could someone tell me why is Drew Sharp even writing about hockey? He does this every playoffs, even though he clearly doesn’t follow the sport. Anyone remember “It’s time to retire Hasek’s number in Detroit”? He’s a decent sports journalist, but really, what the hell happened to “write what you know”?

10 more months until another Red Wings article by Mr. Sharp… thank the press gods.

Posted by JAMESinMI on 06/13/09 at 02:12 AM ET