gcom007

Osgood's really only had one rough start and even in that start, he was hung out to dry the majority of the time. Watch the video replays and look up the recaps if you don't remember. The rest of the time, Osgoods been solid. And while the Devils are horrible, they dumped quite a few shots on Osgood and many quality scoring chances. Osgood had to be great to hold them to the 1 goal. I'm not saying it should go to a 50-50 rotation yet either, but the idea that Osgood has played poorly this year is unfounded. I'll say though right now, if Osgood keeps this up and plays at a strong level down the stretch, I would like to see him start in the playoffs. That is where he shines, and Howard stands to learn a lot from watching Osgood when it matters most. I believe in Howard long run, but I also believe in the developmental process. I'd rather go with the veteran and let the next guy learn how it's done especially after Howard's less than stellar run last year.

Worst in the league is taking it too far but he definitely has a lot of room to improve. I think he's got a lot of potential but this and rebound control are definitely areas he needs to work out two become a long-time steady starter. Teams will get better and better at taking advantage of his weaknesses as time goes on so he definitely needs to reign them in. Aside from that, it's also very true that it helps immensely to have a goalie that can play the puck well as it can really help jumpstart a rush. I would have liked to see more improvement in puck and rebound control from him coming into tis season but he's still been solid and I do think he'll work the issues out in time.

More than a handful have 3D TV's, maybe two handfuls... But how many of them actually know how to get it up and running? 3D as it's being done now is dead in the water. Maybe when the screens that don't require glasses hit consumer level pricing it'll catch on, but as is it's just too expensive and no one wants to wear the glasses when it comes down to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOV36T58_fg&sns=em

Wait, so joining a team that was in last place the previous season and (as many in the New York press said) carrying that same team into the playoffs without the advantage of a great Detroit defense is no big deal? Can you really not connect the dots simply via stats that he would've had to elevate his game significantly to keep his numbers consistent with those racked up on a far better Detroit team? Did you actually follow his play while he was away even, or are you just going by stats and a bunch of message board, armchair gossip? You'd be right to suggest that his second year away was a mess, though there were a lot of factors that played into that. But that first year with the Islanders was a strong, strong year for Osgood personally, as again, he basically carried a last place team into the playoffs. The third year was a better effort from his as well before he returned back to Detroit after the lockout. That year he battled injuries early on but he was playing strong hockey by the end of the year, far superior to that of joker Legace who never should've started in the playoffs...ever.

Osgoods had 1 rough start this year out of his 6 this year and even in that game he had no help at all from his team and was hung completely out to dry on 2-3 of the goals against. He's been nothihng but strong in the rest of his starts this year. The stats now reflect that with a .907 save % and a 2.48 GAA putting him ahead of Howard even on that stat. Bottom line, as many have said again and again, he's anything but "done." And wait for it: I think his play will improve even more once he gets that 400th. It's a huge mental monkey on his back that will be good to move past.

I can't believe it's taken 1 day shy of a year to reach the eve of 400 wins. Long time coming, but it feels good to say... 399!!! 1 more win...this will be a huge accomplishment. The big question is when will it be? I really hope Babcock gives him an opportunity to do it at home. Monday, Wednesday or Sunday. I'd be fine with any of those! 399!!!

The best thing about Osgood getting close to 400 is that I think he'll be a better goalie once it's in the past. Especially with how long it's taken, he's admitted that it's become a bit of a mental burden that he's ready to move on from. Let's hope for a strong 3rd and then maybe Wednesday or next Sunday Osgood can get a home game and a win for 400. I really hope Babs gives him the chance to get it at home. He deserves that with an honor as noteworthy as joining the 400 club.

Can we get him on LTIR for psychological reasons? Mental constipation or something? Follow it up with a mental conditioning stint in GR?

So how long have you been in love with Osgood?

For the record: i don't give a beeping beep if a goalie gives up a beepy goal a game. I give them a flub a game by default in the regular season. Maybe more like .75 flubs per game in the playoffs. If a goalie gives up a crap goal but stops everything else he ought to stop, he still played a good game in my book if not a great game at times. Every player out there makes mistakes. Goalies are no exception. You just can't get hung up on one crap goal. It's a stupid, narrow-minded thing to do. Howard played beeping great tonight. Done.

This was a great game. It really, really, really gets me hoping against reason that we'll wind up in the East soon. Howard bounced back from a couple out outings well. Dats is brilliant as usual. Cleary making up for being a bit overpaid at times the last couple years more and more. My boy Eaves gets a goal to top it off! Great game! Can't wait for New Jersey tomorrow. Games like this make you hungry for more hockey!

EAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howard making some big time saves in a big game. Love it.

I've gotta say, I'm not unhappy that Mntreal scored. The hockey fan in me wants a tight game and OT. This games too damn fun and awesome to not get all stressed out and anxious over..damn sentences, I'm having na blast! Can't toe on the iPad either. Old time hockey!!

I'm late, but are we allowed to say "f***?" I hope so, because... f*** YES PAVEL DATSYUK!!! f*** YES!!!

That was my favorite goal of the year thus far.

I think Osgood's a lock for the Hall of Fame. They're not going to keep a 400 win goalie out with 3 Cup rings and multiple all star game appearances. Rafters? Who knows. It's anyone's guess at this point. I think there's more reasons to think he'll be up there than reasons why he won't to be honest, but there still may not be enough reasons to get it up there. What I think will be interesting to see is how the fan base regards Osgood 5-10 years after he retires. I've always felt with Osgood that it's a "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" situation. He's taken for granted around here, and many newer fans don't remember just how good he was in his prime. Maybe if he was more of a nutjob he'd get more accolades, but I think he's a bit to down to earth to get the media attention necessary while around to be considered a big time goalie. The reality of the matter is though that by all the numbers and all the Cups, he's one of the best goalies in the league over the last 20 years. He really is among an elite group of championship goalies with Roy and Brodeur. Even Hasek only won one Cup, and he's an all time great...

I don't think there's a salary cap on Frankensteining research, so why the hell not?! Get it done, Kenny!

Since stats mean everything??? Do you honestly think Howard played well last post-season? Have you forgotten the story outside the stats? The horrible timing on countless goals? Poor 1st period performances leaving us with our backs against the wall the rest of the game? Can you honestly say and than objectively defend the idea that he played even close to as well in the playoffs as he did in the regular season? Furthermore, could you say he played well enough at all to win the Cup? Perhaps you should contrast Howard's playoff run last year against Osgood's last two wildly successful playoff runs, one ending in a Cup and the other a game 7 near miss in which he was a Conn Smyth contender carrying a battered team on his back. Remember that? Datsyuk missed a lot of games and wasn't a force when in. Rafalski missed quite a few. Countless others were hurting pretty bad. Even Lidstrom missed games! So again, just compare those successful runs against Howard's and try to tell me that Howard played well enough to go the distance. Remember everyone and their mother wanting Osgood in? Osgood! If this silly fan base is panicking enough to want Osgood in, you have to believe that there's something to be said for Howard not getting the job done, exaggerated somewhat or not. But hell, just look at Babcock's attitude this year heading into the season with Osgood. He's infinitely more supportive of Osgood this year, giving him opportunities and praise early on. Why? It's not hard to read between the lines: Howard didn't have what it takes last year, not even close. And while Osgood may not have it anymore either, after Howard's blatant struggles, Babcock seems determined to not back himself into the same corner with a totally cold Osgood again this year. That says something.

Tough to get behind anything regarding the goalies until after this season. If Howard starts in the playoffs and struggles again, or if he doesn't finish as strong in the regular season, there's no way in hell it'll be Howard/Larsson. If Osgood proves that he can still win games, which I think he will down the stretch just fine, he'll likely be signed on for another year. Wings aren't prone to pushing veterans who want to stay out especially if there's no one who's being criminally held back in the AHL, and Osgood will sign for dirt cheap. My bet is that Larsson means everything he said, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's simply trying to write his ticket out of Detroit. It's not hard to see the writing on the wall in the Wings system: you're going to be chilling in the AHL for awhile. If you don't have the patience of that, you're probably better off somewhere else. I don't doubt that he knows this on some level at this point at all.

Good stuff here. And not that I care what Larsson thinks, nor do I think Howard or Osgood care, but I've gotta say... I still think Osgood's potential is wildly underestimated by most. Nobody goes from putting on such an outstanding, Conn-Smythe worthy performance back in the 2009 playoffs to being completely "done" the next season. I just don't buy it at all. After all, it's the same crap that was said during the regular season of him before that great playoff run. I don't know what the hell his deal is with the regular season anymore and it is rather, umm, annoying perhaps? But when push comes to shove, it's hard for me to believe that Osgood doesn't still have what it takes to be a money goaltender when it counts. I don't think he was given enough of a chance last year down the stretch to prove anything in the regular season anyways. The situation with the rotation was a joke and as much as it is physically challenging to come in after month long breaks and play strong, the mental frustration he must've gone through sitting for so long could not have helped. I think he's playing better this year; he's had some strong games. I think Howard's obviously a better regular season goalie at this point in time despite his struggles creeping up more often than not over the last 5-6 games, but even if Osgood was playing worse, I'm not going to lie, I'd feel better heading into the playoffs with him starting than Howard still this year. I like Howard and I think he's got a lot of what it takes to last, but I still think he has lessons to learn while watching, much like Osgood had to learn watching Vernon. It's easy to rip on Osgood's regular season performance these days, but it's also easy to rip on Howard's playoff performance last year. Even if he wasn't horrible, he was not even remotely close to "great" and in fact he played significantly worse than he played in the regular season. Playoff hockey is a different game, and Osgood knows that very well. If Osgood can continue to compete this season and can begin to challenge Howard, I think it'd be best for the team and Howard (in terms of overall development) if Osgood started. Again, I still think there's a strong possibility that he can be a great playoff goalie. And again, I'm sorry if it bugs some of you, but if any goalies prove that the regular season and the playoffs are totally different beasts, it's Howard and Osgood...oh, and Manny Legace! Osgood was a vastly superior playoff goalie in the 2009 playoffs than in the regular season and Howard was a far better regular season goalie than playoff goalie in 2010. And Legace is just a joke. We'll see how it goes, but I still really like both of our goalies for what I believe to be quite rational reasons. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I think both have the potential to get it done when it counts. Howard might have more to learn to get there, but he's more than capable. And I think Osgood likely still has what it takes to go the distance. Bottom line, Daniel Larsson: I'm not worried.

I'll tell you what, if we could combine Flip and Huds into one player, we'd have another Datsyuk on our hands. Flip has got the drive and the more complete game but not a lot of offensive skill...oh, and height. Huds has got plenty of offensive skill to go around, but he struggles mentally and not only is he literally small, he plays small. Neither of these guys individually have lived up to the hype consistently at any point in their careers. They likely never will. So again, the obvious solution is to Frankenstein their asses into one complete, skilled player.

Hindsight? He was one of the best wingers in the game. He's a complete player with more hustle than the majority of guys in the league, despite bona fide star status. He's willing to take an incredibly reasonable amount of money on the cap hit to sign long term and you don't want to let two mid-level guys who have been nothing but inconsistent from the start go to sign him??? It was an absolute no-brainer to me and it still bugs me to this day that they didn't have the spine to let a couple of our guys walk for a guy like Hossa who wanted to be here as much as anyone. Who cares where he developed!?! His worth proportional to the money he was aiming for trumps all. Hudler and Flip are/were overpaid for guys who were/are unproven as consistent players (relative to their idealized roles). Hossa was/is a superstar willing to take a significant pay cut to play here. I try not to question Holland and company as much as some, and generally I think he makes good decisions, but letting Hossa go to keep Flip and Huds in the fold still strikes me as one of his few more idiotic decisions. I get some of his controversial moves, even the ones I don't like. I still don't get or like the Hossa decision one bit.

I've always been verbally skeptical of Flips offensive abilities or lack thereof, but at least when he's not scoring he still contributes to the team in our end. I think he's overpaid in Detroit and overrated offensively and I doubt he'll ever truly hit the numbers people expect of him (40-50 peak), but he's a responsible player who can handle a fair amount of minutes. If he gets signed again by the Wings at $3 million, I'll be quite livid. That is, unless he actually is able to come out and have a huge offensive output increase (especially goals) that he keeps up with some consistency. And either way, I still think we should've traded him for picks and signed Hossa long-term at around $5 million a season. But again, at least he still contributes to the team in some way when he's out there. To be blunt, when Hudler's not scoring, he's pretty much worthless. That's the big difference here. Again, I'd much rather have seen Huds walk and Flip traded for picks to sign Hossa long-term at $5 million, but oh well...what's done is done.