I’ve always been a huge Ozzie fan. And he is right, it is much more of an honor to have your number hanging in the rafter sin Hockeytown than in that converted bank building that holds the joke of a HOF. But there is no way that Ozzie gets his number hung in the rafters before Red Kelly or Syd Howe. Hell, I’d rather see Homer’s pant’s hanging over the 1st/3rd period visitor’s goall than No. 30 in the rafters; AND I think Ozzie belongs in the HOF.

It’s especially surprising that Red Kelly’s #4 is not up there. Much like Lindsay, Adams traded Kelly out of spite. Kelly had played with a broken ankle during the latter part of the 1959 season when the Wings missed the playoffs. The following season, a reporter asked him about his lacluster play during the previous season and Kelly mentioned his then-healed ankle. That upset Jack Adams, and Kelly was immediately traded.

Kelly is one of the greatest defensemen ever and his number deserves to be retired.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 02/16/12 at 05:54 PM ET

Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie.
He’s dreaming to think he’s headed to the rafters though.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 02/16/12 at 06:47 PM ET

Ozzy will be up in the rafters someday, but not until he is in the HHOF which he will be. 

Of his era there is only one other goalie with 3 Rings.  AND he also led the Wings to within 1 game of ANOTHER cup. 

The only goalies of the last 20 years better than Ozzy WITH the longevity that he had:

Hasek
Roy
Belfour
CuJo (No Cups, and Ozzy will be in b4 him IMO)
Brodeur

People also forget that he led the Islanders, THE ISLANDERS! to the playoffs.  And the Blues as well.

And the only current goalies that would be better than him are
Lundqvist
Ryan Miller. 
Fleury

Although their careers are still early.

and Thomas (although you can’t compare him AT ALL because he’s only had a post lockout career.)
Look how many goalies fall off in their later careers or have only two or three good seasons.

Posted by BobaFett from Las Vegas on 02/16/12 at 07:45 PM ET

Love ya, Oz…but no rafters for you.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 02/16/12 at 08:22 PM ET

I don’t believe Red Kelly will ever be honored with 4 in the rafters Cap’n. He was only here for 8-9 years with many other successful years with the Laffs. If he gets in you would have to include Shanny which I also don’t think makes it either. Ozzie making it in the rafter is verry iffy, but deserves the nod for HOF but not in 1st couple years of elligibility

Someone suggested some kind of ring of honor for our Wings that don’t make the criteria for rafter raising.  How about Honored Wing Warriors sponsored by the Warrior hockey equipment company which is based in Warren?

Posted by cigar_nurse from Greenville South Cakalakee on 02/16/12 at 10:30 PM ET