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One stat everyone keeps failing to mention - A few years ago the Dallas Ice Girls voted on the cutest goalie in the league. Yep that's right. Osgood won it. Look at any of the other goalies in the HoF. None of them have that particular distinguished accomplishment on their career resumes.

Puck don't lie. Yes.

When it comes to the Hall of Fame I don't go by stats alone. They are an important criteria. However when I think of Osgood's career, to me it is not Hall worthy. When I think of the Hockey Hall of Fame, I think of players such as Gretzky, Messier, Lemieux, Roy, Orr...to name a few. No question with those guys. Their careers speak for themselves. Osgood played on some great teams and benefitted from it. But he still won those games and won those Cups. However I don't think you can look at Cups by itself. Draper won 4 Cups. Does this mean he is a better player than Marcel Dionne who won none? Of course not. 400 wins is 400 wins. But to me, Osgood was a good goaile but not great. To me you have to be great to be in the Hall of Fame. Andreychuk and Gartner to me were not great but they are in because of their numbers. Myself, I don't think either should be in. Likewise I don't think Osgood should be in.

This is a valid question, and one I've been pondering since discussion came up about this. If it is agreed that Osgood is better, then he belongs up with Terry. If not, I really don't think so. I can't come to a good conclusion. The eras were different. Terry played with no back-up and through all sorts of pain and injuries and troubles. Terry's life was tragic, as was his death. All of this makes it hard to have an objective comparison as to which is better, and if Ozzie belongs there. My heart says yes. My head says no. My stomach says go cook some spaghetti.

Couldn't agree more. I can't believe something hasn't been done about it yet, it's so obviously wrong it's SCARY and stems into many issue's I wont get into on this thread...This must be so hard on the family, such an insane situation to be in, I feel so bad.

Seems like the the story was written about Detroit Sports as a whole! most of you taking it that he did not like just the Wings? I don't understand how one guy gets his thoughts published and some take major offense like he was talking to you... oh wait! maybe he was! I am not saying he is totally right, But he has a couple of valid thoughts in there.

Very few players have played as long for the Wings as Osgood has. Even fewer have been top players for the Wings as many years as Osgood was. So the "so many guys, so few numbers" argument is invalid. With that argument, you could have two teams that are both twenty years old, both have won two Cups in that time and have had similar success. One has constantly changed its roster, six or seven new guys per year, while the other typically sticks to the sme roster, maybe one or two tweaks at most. Which team is more likely to retire a player's number?

Lid's number is next to be retired, that is a given... I do feel the Wings should retire #30 as he has been a crucial part of their success for 3 Stanley Cups, and main reason for winning 2 of them.

What Oz has done for this franchise and the others he's played for has been remarkable. His numbers and accolades speak for themselves, but as much as it will piss off some...I don't see him making up in the rafter, HOF'er or not. You look at how many guys have played for the Winged wheel yet only 6 guys currently have their number retired. Detroit is beyond stingy with the players they decide to have their numbers retired (which I completely agree with) and I truly believe #5 will be the next rather than #30. It's no knock on Ozzie, IMHO guys like Fedorov don't deserve to be up there as well and guys like Z and Dats have a hell of a long way to go to even be in the discussion as well. I'm ultra picky about who gets up there because the more players they retire, the less of an honor it becomes....and in Detroit, that's what it deserves to be. That being said, I can't imagine he wouldn't make the Hall. He's most certainly worthy of it and deserve to be there.

Then Heaten might be Big E's spin doctor

If in saying that Detroit fans are getting uglier, he meant this: Then I might agree with him

I guess New Jersey is too far of a DRIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!

Congrats to Chris Osgood on an amazing career and for everything he brought to the Red Wings. He is a class act and I hope he makes the hall...he certianly deserves it!

Retiring Ozzie's number and sending him to the HOF is the only reasonable thing's ahead for him. Will miss the guy. Under appreciated, under rated.

so, i don't even know why, but when i read the retirement article on mlive, i started to cry. not a sad cry, not a happy cry...just a few tears and when i'd finished reading, a slight salute. i didn't even do that when stevie retired. i've only cried about this sport one time...when vladdie was in the accident. still not sure what prompted it, or why i've felt the need to post about it after a long self imposed exile from lgw. all i know is, the man deserved our respect and never got it, he deserved every win (and a few of the losses!), and he now deserves a proper sendoff. thank you, ozzie, for everything. you may not be on the ice, but both my wife and myself will wear your jersey with pride!!

Wrestled all summer with decision - knew he could play & would miss the team and the Joe; body tipped the scales as well as being at home more with family. Kenny offered him the "coaching" job & thought he'd be more useful in that capacity. He felt it was right time; was very nervous yesterday until the words left his lips. He's confident he made right decision. Just got back from trip with Drapes, Hank, Howie & unnamed others to UK; made it harder to make decision because he was with a lot of team mates. Drapes helped make decision. Stony asked how he manages to shake off bad goals so successfully - earlier coaches stressed this daily; learned from Cheli and Vernon; HoF - wants to be in (!) looks forward to it happening, feels he should make it, especially after playing with NY & St. Louis; more proud of playoff performances than regular season overall. Stony admits he said no, because he thinks Oz wasn't a dominant player, albeit a good goalie. Those are the highlights.

I don't think it will be used anymore. Good luck Ozzie, you will be missed.

Retiring already. And he still looks like he's twelve.

I have yet another thing to remind me that I'm old. It seems like yesterday that Ozzie was a kid backing up Mike Vernon. Ah man... Goodbye to another Detroit classic.

Here's to you, Ozzie. Since I was in 1st grade, you were our dependable home-town goalie, through thick and thin. A true Red Wing if I ever saw one. Good thing Nick didn't retire this year because that would just be too much to take.

Thanks for all the memories, Ozzie. You'll always be my hero.

I never thought i'd see it since I started watching hockey, Ozzy has been a part of this organization(Besides his short journeys in St. Louis and Long Island). Thanks for everything you've contributed to the organization, Oz. Guy always seemed like a class act and a great guy off the ice. In my opinion, #30 should be in the rafters at the Joe. He could be one of the most underrated goaltenders of all-time. That said, he was never the flashiest. He never blew you away with the stats. He just got s*** done. Bottom line. His jersey is next on my wish list. Best of luck the rest of the way, Ozman. You will be missed in Hockeytown and by Red Wings fans all over the world. Good to see he is sticking around with the organization. Seriously gonna look for an Ozzy chant ringtone

Is #91 there? It wouldn't bother me at all. Eventually, I think it will be worn again, but it will be a while, certainly not this generation.