Outsider

That's taken quite out of context, even for you, Broken.

LOL. Shhhhh...... You're obviously nothing more than an Osgood slappy, gcom. You're also quite obviously just butt hurt that Osgood has been replaced, permanently, again.

Not for nothing, but: The same ones who were clamoring for Legace in 2005-2006, those who thought he was "ready", are the very same people who were clamoring for Conklin last year, because they thought HE was "ready". They're the same ones who are clamoring for Howard THIS year, because they're convinced that HE is "ready". And in every one of those scenarios, it was the same attitude: Get RID of Osgood. He's obviously not needed. Legace/Conklin/Howard is definitely better, and Osgood is "done". Waive/trade/demote him down to Grand Rapids. Let the new Osgoodless era in Detroit begin! Huzzah! Also, oddly enough: Those few who were shouting out from the rooftops against turning it all over to Legace, and to Conklin, those who were arguing that Osgood was FAR from done, and that the Wings would need him, and that he would prove all of the doubters and haters wrong.....again..... Are the same few who are preaching patience and caution in handing it all over to Howard now, (prematurely), after a whopping THIRTYISH Games, while tossing the grizzled, Cup Winning veteran to the side like a pair of dirty socks. Coincidence? Not.

I don't know about everyone else, but I think Pavel's English is great. Really let's his personality shine through.

I'm calling bulls***. Osgood was roundly bashed by Babcock last Season, too. Benched and yanked and poked. And DESERVEDLY SO. "Treated with kid gloves."? That's hooey. Also calling bulls*** on the second sentence in the paragraph, too. Maybe a goaltender EARLY in his career who played like that might have been "on waivers". But NOT one with 14 years in the League, more than 300 Career Wins, and TWO Stanley Cups - ONE OF WHICH he'd just Won 6 months prior. No way. No how. THAT is reality. Osgood DESERVED that chance to right his ship. He got that chance. And he JUSTIFIED it. That, also, is reality. I hope it was off-handed too. By the way, he IS mentoring Howard. There have been two recent articles about how Howard is the beneficiary of a Chris Osgood who is NOT taking his bitterness over not playing out on the rook, but is doing his best to support and mentor him. Both excellent pieces: One by Darren Elliot at Sports Illustrated, the other by Craig Custance at The Sporting News. Despite his unhappiness with not playing, Osgood is doing EVERYTHING he can to ensure that Howard has a bright future in Detroit for many years to come. And that is one of the MAIN reasons Holland wants him here.

Lids has no reason to. If Stevie is God, Lids is Jesus. Period. As for Drapes, Malts, and more than a few of the "other guys".....? Ask around, mate. Ask around. Ozzie's not the only one, he's just the mouthiest one. Of course, he's the ONLY one who's been pushed right to the brink, too.

Wait for it. It's all rosy while you're Winning, Carman. Once the Winning tails off? There were the rumors about his "guy" Sauer in Anaheim. And Mike Commodore. The rumors about Stevie. And Shanny. And Cheli. And have we forgotten Hudler?

Glad you remember it. Few seem to. Typical revisionist history. As to the other? You can chalk that up to something very simple, Statts: Yzerman was a God. Still is. Deservedly so. Stevie could do no wrong. As soon as he hoisted the Cup for the first time? He was untouchable. Again.....deservedly so. Osgood? He can do NO RIGHT! Ever. No matter what he accomplishes, it's shat upon. Belittled. He's lucky. He's NEVER been any good. He wouldn't even BE here if he weren't so "cheap". He led his Team to the Stanley Cup Finals, and earned another Ring as a Starter, with TWO consecutive Smythe worthy performances. And now everyone is ready to throw him over for a rookie with FORTY GAMES under his belt. Last year it was a CAREER BACK UP who'll never be ANYTHING in this League, and "gave" the Red Wings one freakin' Season. Prior to that? Another career back up whom everyone with ANY kind of hockey knowledge KNEW wasn't cut out for the job. (Well....everyone but the new Head Coach who insisted he was, that is.....). Waive him. Trade him. Just get this "cancer" out of here. He has been ***** SLAPPED his entire career, despite being one of the TEN MOST SUCCESSFUL goaltenders in NHL History. As his career is winding down, he's TIRED of being ***** slapped. This Season? He hasn't even had a fair shake! He's being punished for essentially gettting SICK at the wrong time. You and me, both. I'm betting that while it wasn't the smartest, most diplomatic thing to say, (though ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE), it wasn't said in the way the print media makes it appear. I'm betting it was rather like his off-handed comment about Bowman, back in the day, when he stated that he'd "given up" trying to figure out what Scotty wanted. That he'd be better off going outside and looking up at the clouds, because he'd have as much luck figuring out the clouds as he would figuring out William Scott Bowman.

Oh, and for the record? Babcock keeps putting the trainwreck known as Brett Lebda out there. And before Eriksson's injury, kept throwing HIM out there despite all the boneheaded plays he was making. Hell....neither one have had their ice time so much as cut. You wanna know the difference? CHELI pre-dated Babcock. He was here, and built a history here, success here, LONG BEFORE Babs came to town. He's not one of "his" guys. Also, if Babs criticizes Lebs or Big Rig, what are they gonna do? They're KIDS! "Yes Coach!". Babs tried to get up in Cheli's face, and Cheli LAUGHED in his face. That's because Christos Chelios was an NHL All Star, a runner up for the Calder, and a STANLEY CUP WINNER while Mike Babcock was trying to find a spot on any hockey Team that would take him. Chris Chelios is a first ballot, sure fire Hall of Famer, and one of the most respected Players ever to play the Game. Babcock treated him like he was s***. Cheli didn't like it, so he told Babs to f*** off. Babs answer? Fine. No ice time for you. Next? You're off the Team. Babs wins. Great victory for the Big Man. He can get up in Lebda's face, and Lebs won't say s***. That's why Lebs is "okay" with Babs. How long do YOU think it will be before all of the Good Will that the Wings have built up over the decades by treating their players with LOYALTY and RESPECT will evaporate once it gets around, (and it is.....believe me....it is), that Mike Babcock is a DICK to play for, and that he has no respect for his veterans - Veterans who are respected by their FELLOW PLAYERS, League wide - nor for anything they've accomplished in their careers, and that he's willing to throw even the most loyal, most dedicated Players under the bus?

Ask around. That's all I'm going to say. It was widely rumored, and not even hotly disputed, at the time. If you weren't paying attention, I don't know what to tell you. Remember Edmonton, 2006? I believe there was something like 7 or so seconds left in the Game 6, in what could conceivably have been considered, (and turned out to be IN FACT), the last game for the longest tenured Captain in the NHL - The Heart and Soul of the Detroit Red Wings. The Captain. After having seen his ice time cut, and cut, and cut again....all Season long in Babcock's first year here..... Where was Stevie Y for that "final" face off? Where was The Captain, with his Team down by two goals, and less than 10 ticks left on the clock, in what turned out to be the last game of his career? He was on the bench. Right where Mike Babcock had placed him so often, all Season long. That's where. It was a slap in the face. And everyone knew it. You didn't? You're probably one of those who "remembers" that the Wings pursued Hasek, and then waived Osgood. Or that they signed Osgood to be Legace's back-up, too. Right?

LOL....Why is it that you're constantly asking for OTHERS to provide answers for you? It's not exactly a secret, you know. How long have you been watching the Wings, anyway? It was widely discussed. And regardless of how much Cheli's play declined, (and it did), you do NOT treat a Hall of Famer like a piece of s***. You allow him to go out with dignity. Especially after everything that Cheli brought to the Wings. You wanna know why the Wings have BEEN so successful? Why they've been able to attract, and KEEP, the types of Players that they attract and keep? Because they have always eschewed the "what have you done for me lately" attitude, and rewarded SERVICE, HISTORY, and DEDICATION to the Winged Wheel, rather than throwing quality veterans who have served well and faithfully under the bus. Osgood has dealt with years, over a decade, of shoddy treatment by the fans and the Press here in Detroit. ALWAYS without a WORD of complaint. The fact that he's complaining now is not a reflection on him. It's a reflection on the man who's pushed him to a limit no one EVER would have though possible.

He's also getting tired of hearing about how the Team is failing to "show up" on so many nights. Getting rather defensive about that, too. Trade Ozzie. Let him go. He'd be better off. And the Wings? Well.... We'll see.

Oh, and for all those who are whining about Osgood mouthing off, and that being a reflection on Osgood, rather than on Babcock: "RUMOR" HAS IT, (ask around, kiddies.....ask those who "know"), that Yzerman couldn't stand Babs. He retired a year earlier than he intended to, because there was NO WAY he was going to tolerate another year under him. Period. Ditto Shanny. Babs "pushed" Cheli out, too. Now it's Ozzie's turn.

I'd say that Mike Babcock played a huge role in making Osgood an "individual" this Season. His play hasn't sucked. It hasn't been great, but is has not sucked. He wasn't bad last night. He gave up three goals against the highest scoring Team in the League, on a night when he hadn't started a game in a MONTH. You're confused. You keep stating that Osgood isn't getting playing time because he's "sucked". You're wrong. Osgood didn't "suck" against Nashville. He was quite good, actually. Howard got the next Start. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one after that. You get the point. Osgood was "meh" against Chicago in his last Start. That gained him a MONTH on the bench. He was "meh" last night against the Caps. That will earn him another long stint on the bench. How much bench time did Howard's suck ass game against Anaheim earn HIM? None. He was right back in there with an OPPORTUNITY to get better, the very next Game. His Crappy game against the Isles? Not a second of bench time. Right back in there again. "Meh" Game against Dallas? Nope. You get the next Game too, kiddo....on the second night of back-to-backs. SUCK ASS Game against Chicago? Okay....we'll give ya a rest. Throw Ozzie to the wolves, and state that this was his "opportunity". When he gives up NO MORE goals against a HIGHER SCORING TEAM than Howard did, and after sitting for a MONTH..... Howard is right back in there. This WILL come back. Write it down. This is NOT the way to do things.

Yeah....that Osgood guy is a real prick. Real cancer, that guy.... Osgood's biggest save..... After the Carolina win, Howard was unlacing his skates while trying to explain the importance of the bounce-back game. How was an inexperienced NHL goalie able to shake off a rough start so easily? He stopped messing with the skates and pointed to the veteran to his right who was peeling off mostly dry hockey gear. There was the answer: Chris Osgood. The reason Howard is succeeding is because of Osgood. When Howard's season debut was a flop in Europe, Osgood was one of his loudest defenders in a sea of critics. And let's not forget, there were plenty. "You have to figure it out, sometimes it's tough," Osgood said. "I've definitely wrestled with it a lot … I've come to the conclusion that you can't push it one way or the other. You have to let things happen. That's how you finish the right way." It's a balancing act. But if Osgood is going to lean one way, it's going to be toward the side of helping a young teammate. "I don't think if you're a bad guy, things ever turn out the right way," Osgood said Yeah. Real "problem", that ******* Osgood. As always...... The Wings are LUCKY to have him. Read it and weep, haters. And for the record, Chris Osgood is not the one who "sucks". Take a look in the mirror.

Don't know if you're posting that tongue in cheek, but I said the same thing years ago and had everyone rolling their eyes and calling me a conspiracy theorist. Everyone back then kept pointing to the fact that the Wings weren't suffering appreciably in the Standings, therefore it was hooey. Difference between then and now? Wings were good enough to overcome the garbage obstacles that the League threw in their path, (much like in the Play Offs in 2008). Now? They're not, (much like the Play Offs in 2009). Ilitch practically spitting in Bettman's eye, and refusing to shake his hand in the corridors of JLA as the Evil One was on his way up to award the Cup to the Scumguins after Game 7 last year certainly didn't help, I'm sure. Not that I blame him.

The Wings are playing dump and chase hockey right now, for the first time in a very, very, very long time. You can say it's because of all the Offense they have on IR. But you also have to watch the Games. When was the last time you saw the Wings spending so much time crashing the net, and skating so hard after rebounds.... IN THEIR OWN ZONE? By the time they get possession of the puck, many times they're so exhausted, all they can do is dump it down the ice and go for the change. Then the cycle starts all over again. That's not Red Wings Hockey. Red Wings hockey is to get possession of the puck, keep possession of the puck, and carry the play down into the Offensive zone. Play keep-away. While that leads to lots of shots on goal FOR the Wings, and fewer shots against, it also leads to more "dangerous" scoring chances against on the few shots they used to give up. Now? The puck is bouncing around their end of the ice like a ping-pong ball. They're chasing the puck. Sometimes they win that battle, sometimes they don't. But after all that chasing, (and don't deny that they are chasing), they don't have the energy to carry the puck down ice. So they just dump it down. Sometimes they win that battle. Sometimes they don't.

I don't think I've ever heard/read Chris sound this insubordinate. Hopefully things are not as tense as this article makes them sound: Osgood Impatient Now....not for nothin', but I take exception to this particular Babcock quote: "It's amazing how it works," Babcock said last week. "If Ozzie had a good night the other night in Chicago (3-0 loss), then he would have started (the next game) and we wouldn't be talking about this....." You see, that wasn't exactly the case when Osgood had a "good night" against Nashville, stopping 33 of 35 shots for the Win. He SAT the next three Games while Howard got the Starts against the weaker Teams. When he did get another Start, it was against Chicago, on the second night of b-2-b's for the Wings. He stopped 33 of 35 shots, and lost 0-3. Howard got the next Start against Chicago, on the second night of b-2-b for CHICAGO, and allowed the same number of goals, on fewer shots, and lost 0-3. He's played both games since, and he'll Start the next game, too. The following sounds VERY un-Ozzie-like: "But if you don't play, it's impossible to get to that point. I'm a goalie, OK, and I've been playing for 20-some years since Juniors. What I say (about goaltending) is closer to the facts than what he (Babcock) would say." I hope this doesn't get ugly. That is the very last thing this Team needs right now. I hate to say it, but Christopher has a point. He's NOT playing badly. He's facing tougher competition. And, (as he states in the article), he has proven that he's capable of playing. He just has to play.

Watching the replay right now. Babcock is right. Howard was great, but there is no way the Kings had 51 shots on goal. This was still a much needed, and largely undeserved, Win.

And I'm calling bulls*** on you too, harold. Everybody knows that Osgood, to this day, is still incapable of growing facial hair.

I watched the Game. That's a bulls*** comment, and I'll call you on it, if no one else will. Osgood is the last guy who would wish an injury on a Teammate, any Teammate, for any reason.

It comes every year. What's new? It came in 2002. And 2003. Again in 2004. It came in 2006. It came in 2007. It wasn't nearly as bad in 2008, for a change. But it was right back to normal last year. It's here again this year. I'm still here.

I haven't counted one occasion, not even from the most rabid Osgood supporter, (that would probably be myself....), where anyone has advocated STARTING Osgood over Howard. All anyone has said is that Osgood has not earned a permanent spot on the bench. No way. Now how. Even with Howard's spectacular performance tonight, that doesn't change the fact that Osgood needs to get in some Games too.

Howard was absolutely fantastic tonight. I said it in the GDT, and I'll repeat it here. Babcock made the right decision in going with Howard tonight. That was the very definition of a stolen game.

The Game is over. The two points are in the bank. And I am here to say it. Babcock made the right decision in going with Jimmy Howard tonight. This was a spectacular performance, and 150% Grand Larceny. Jimmy Howard was tremendous beyond words tonight.