Chris Osgood- What do we do?

[lets go pavel 2]

Pascal Leclaire has a cap hit of 3.8 million and is signed for 2 more years after this, he's been playing worse than the guys we have now, and do you really think Columbus will trade him to us, in the same division, without us significantly overpaying? He's not the answer ...

[Casey 145]

Finally, we need to think about developing a young goalie. Howard is a guy this team hasn't given much of a chance to, so it's probably better if they look elsewhere. Maybe we need a Swedish goalie.

Larsson and McCollum both are doing pretty well for themselves. McCollum's probably 2 years away, but I could be quite happy with bringing up Larsson and running a trio with Conks getting about 45, Ozzie 25, Larsson 12.

[BlueMonk 102]

Conklin = Legace.

Babcock better not make that mistake again.

Could be but I'm not sure yet. Legace had already demonstrated that playoff pressure overwhelmed him in the 2004 playoffs. Conklin hasn't had a chance to prove himself either way. The one thing they do have in common is the league-wide perception that they're career backups (even if Legace has gone on to start for a bad team now). That's usually fairly telling and suggests that Conklin may not be a guy you can make a run to the Stanley Cup with.

I think the likely scenario is Osgood starts the playoffs, providing he's healthy. If he stumbles early, he'll probably get the hook. The big problem with the 2006 run is Babcock didn't make the switch. Last year, he was smart enough to do it, and I think he's smart enough to do it again if he needs to.

[jenova0 0]

Start Conks IMO, Conks has been solid, Osgood has been terrible, at best.

[redwing_sparty 0]

breakaways are caused by bad defense so i wont hang ozzie on those i guess

but the real issue i have, and this is based on multiple games this season, is losing when the wings score 4 or 5 goals. its like the pittsburg game. its not like the wings aren't socring and playing hard. it makes me sick to lose games like this. ozzie has had something like 20 games to shake this funk he's in, and he hasnt made any progress, meanwhile conks has 5 shutouts and has absolutely robbed some guys lately. he's playing with confidence and is making the big saves. I also think the wings look more comfortable when he is playing since they are confident in his abilities. hasek always challenged ozzie last year and ozzie is not getting that pressure this season.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Shots against overall:

Ozzie: 581 in 24 games SV% .886% 2.21GAA

Ty: 568 in 22 games SV% .922% 3.23GAA

Explain that.

Conklin has been much better than Osgood.

Well considering current play is most important it is shown that the defense has recently screwed the pooch when Osgood is in net, and not with Conklin.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Not to hate on ol' Conker, but his only playoff experience was a rather embarrassing sixty seconds in the first game of the '06 SCF.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Yeah, my mistake. Anyways, GAAs are correct, 2.21 for Conklin; 3.23 for Osgood

Conklin stopped 568/616; Osgood 581/658.

Still, Osgood is simply much worse than Conklin so far.

btw I am not "panicking" or whatever some of you like to call it, but Osgood sucks atm.

Honestly earlier in the season the gap between the two goalies wasn't that large, in my opinion. They were both sort of up and down (as was the entire team). And often both looked like they were overplaying the puck.

It's been fairly recent that Conklin has gotten some consistency.

As I said earlier, I think the Wings just need to keep splitting games and hope Ozzy gets his act together. Because I fear what NNick mentioned, that Conklin is a lot like Legace.

[Mike 0]

It is clear that the defense has played better this season when they are in front of Conklin, so it would make sense to start Conklin in big games. Osgood looks like he is lost out there when he is playing big games. He sits low to the ice and he sits back in the crease. Also, he gives up giant, juicy rebounds. Osgood needs a little time on the bench, perhaps a minor league stint. I wouldn't mind seeing Jimmy Howard get a chance in net for a game or two this season.

[Winged_Wheeler 3]

breakaways are caused by bad defense so i wont hang ozzie on those i guess

True, I was pissed last night. Staurt f***ed up on the first one and helpless Flippula never gives up. The second goal Osgood should have redeemed himself.

[#19=Legend 29]

LOLOLOLO so you think, as a member of LGW, we should trade Osgood for a 4th and a happy meal? You added the happy meal because you're about 11 years old, aren't you? Its ok, you can call dibs on the toy.

Seriously, there is nothing more annoying, nor discrediting to your debate tactics, to not only use hyperbole, but to put words in other peoples mouths as well. Try actually debating the issue, and you might not look like such a slappy.

HAHAHA yupp you got me, im 11 years old. Man i hope i dont already have the toy it comes with!!

Last time Osgood played, people on here were saying oh hes coming around, hes gonna be fine.. blah blah blah.

now osgood gets thrown under the bus by our defense, and some idiots on here know no better then to blame the goalie...its sad really.

im not gonna lie, osgood hasnt been himself lately but to put the blame that most of you are is not right.

"he shoulda made this save, shoulda made that save" k?

why not blame the D on those 2 breakaways in the 3rd? ... guess what? if those breaks didnt happen. then you know... we win last night and in turn, this thread DOES NOT EXIST!!

edit-clarity

oh and about my sig... its called sarcasm you f***nut... people act like its the end of the world and quickly forgot last years SCF. just like i expected they would.

i would sit here and explian to you what sarcasm is but i gotta go to work, i will when i get back. dont think about it too hard and hurt yourself.

Edited January 18, 2009 by #19=Legend

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

HAHAHA yupp you got me, im 11 years old. Man i hope i dont already have the toy it comes with!!

Last time Osgood played, people on here were saying oh hes coming around, hes gonna be fine.. blah blah blah.

now osgood gets thrown under the bus by our defense, and some idiots on here know no better then to blame the goalie...its sad really.

im not gonna lie, osgood hasnt been himself lately but to put the blame that most of you are is not right.

"he shoulda made this save, shoulda made that save" k?

why not blame the D on those 2 breakaways in the 3rd? ... guess what? if those breaks didnt happen. then you know... we win last night and in turn, this thread DOES NOT EXIST!!

edit-clarity

The defense has not been what it should be all season. In spurts it's been fantastic but more often than not it has looked average. Average is not good enough for a team with as talented a group, a coaching staff and as good a system as the Wings.

That said, Ozzie hasn't played very well. He's played well enough to have a good record but we've all seen Ozzie for years. Even when he got no credit b/c he played behind a great team we defended him because he was still pretty darn solid. I can't defend his play this season, thus far he's been average at best.

I'm willing to go into the playoffs with Oz and Conklin b/c Oz is tested and isn't easily rattled. And Conks looks like a much better goalie when he plays behind a good team.

The defensive lapses need to get shored up. But I think in San Jose, you saw a team that was juiced up at home, has alot of big bodied, fast skating guys and they took advantage of some defensive blunders. Facing facts, the Sharks are a helluva good team and they've got some serious weaponry. Once again Michalak showed why he's one of my favorite non wings, he's like a faster version of Hossa just not with the true scorers knack yet. Amazing speed on that breakaway.

Long West Coast trip, playing in the Tank. I don't read too much into this 1 loss. Yeah, Oz gave up 6. But hasn't Nabby/ the sharks given up 11 the last 2 times we played them? Don't overlook that.

Defense needs to play better.

Oz needs to play better.

Not a whole lot more to the story than that.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

But it's a good message to find it himself.

We've already traded Ozzie away and taken him back. That's about as big of a message as he could've gotten. Benching him won't really help.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

HAHAHA yupp you got me, im 11 years old. Man i hope i dont already have the toy it comes with!!

Last time Osgood played, people on here were saying oh hes coming around, hes gonna be fine.. blah blah blah.

now osgood gets thrown under the bus by our defense, and some idiots on here know no better then to blame the goalie...its sad really.

im not gonna lie, osgood hasnt been himself lately but to put the blame that most of you are is not right.

"he shoulda made this save, shoulda made that save" k?

why not blame the D on those 2 breakaways in the 3rd? ... guess what? if those breaks didnt happen. then you know... we win last night and in turn, this thread DOES NOT EXIST!!

edit-clarity

I agree 110%.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I don't buy the "defense hasn't been as good in front of Osgood" argument. To begin with, Conklin has faced more shots than Osgood has on average this season, and secondly, the defense is going to have a harder time when the goalie is giving up so many rebounds. THAT is the reason, if anything, that the defense looks more chaotic in front of Osgood. Osgood's bugaboo this season has been rebounds, rebounds, rebounds.

[Pucks 66]

Conklin = Legace.

Babcock better not make that mistake again.

Legace didn't have this group in front of him either. This team can play a lot more hard nosed when they need to in the playoffs. People try to make things all about one thing in terms of winning and losing but it's not like that. Hasek was great in 02, not so much in 08. Osgood was good in 98, not so much in the next decade, until plying well in relief last year. I think 20 competent goalies could have won the cup with the wings last year.

[Datsyerberger 279]

We've already traded Ozzie away and taken him back. That's about as big of a message as he could've gotten. Benching him won't really help.

Osgood was traded away because the Wings had an opportunity to sign arguably the best goaltender ever for a stacked cup run. If you don't recall, Ozzie had been one of the best and most successful 'tenders of that era when he was traded, and he continued to prove such with winning records and SV%s of around 9.10 on god awful Blues and Islanders teams.

I'd like to say we're seeing that Ozzie right now.. we aren't, we're seeing about a 9.0% Ozzie, with the 8.85 SV% attributable to the defense giving up huge scoring chances in front of him. Hopefully, by playoff time, we see playoff Ozzie, which is capable of being a 9.25-9.30 SV% monster.

[high_stick69 7]

Nothing, just like last year whenenver Hasek struggled. You just let things like this play out and do not make a trade or move just for the sake of making a trade or move. They don't have the cap space to make a trade, I highly doubt either doing anything to ship Osgood or Conklin is even anywhere on the radar of an option.

This team is making the playoffs, I'll be concerned about Osgood or Conklin's play starting around April if it isn't up to snuff. I'm fine with both of them.

With a team as good as the Wings, you let things like this play out, be patient, and don't do any big moves just because they might be "exciting".

Hit the nail right on the head! The Wings haven't played their best hockey yet. I'm confident they will come around. Ozzy had an inconsistent start to the season, and he's coming off the injury. Give him some time to shore up his game. No need to panic right now.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

I don't buy the "defense hasn't been as good in front of Osgood" argument. To begin with, Conklin has faced more shots than Osgood has on average this season, and secondly, the defense is going to have a harder time when the goalie is giving up so many rebounds. THAT is the reason, if anything, that the defense looks more chaotic in front of Osgood. Osgood's bugaboo this season has been rebounds, rebounds, rebounds.

That just sounds too logical. Are you sure that you can't turn off your brain for a few minutes and come up with a better story. Maybe it's a conspiracy. The defense secretly hate him because of his boyish good looks.

[Icesurfer 75]

Conklin is having a career year and Ozzie is having one of his worst years. THE PAST IS THE PAST...... FORGET ABOUT IT. It is about THIS YEAR. You need a goalie to make you at least 4-5 excellent saves per game. Conklin is doing that on a regular basis and Ozzie is up and down. If the playoffs were to start tomorrow Conklin would get the nod IMHO. Ozzie has only about 18 starts left to prove he can do the job. It will be an interesting mext two months to say the least but I think Ozzzie is done.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Conklin is having a career year and Ozzie is having one of his worst years. THE PAST IS THE PAST...... FORGET ABOUT IT. It is about THIS YEAR. You need a goalie to make you at least 4-5 excellent saves per game. Conklin is doing that on a regular basis and Ozzie is up and down. If the playoffs were to start tomorrow Conklin would get the nod IMHO. Ozzie has only about 18 starts left to prove he can do the job. It will be an interesting mext two months to say the least but I think Ozzzie is done.

Based on what happened last year, I'd bet that Babs would start the guy with the Cup rings over the backup, for better or worse.

Luckily we've still got some time.

[Jericho613 74]

This adversity is good for the Wings, its better to make the mistakes and learn from them in the regular season than in the playoffs when it counts. If Ozzy doesn't come around by April then yeah bench him and play Conklin. But there is still time to fix the defensive struggles and to get Ozzy into playoff form. The Wings Will Be Fine.

[dallas27 7]

From a technical standpoint Conklin is quicker, plays his angles better and anticipates much better than Osgood.

That being said, I'm still waiting to reserve judgment, have half a season left. If Conklin is still outplaying Osgood in March give him the bulk of the starts and see how he holds up. Otherwise I want the goalie who has won multiple cups and has 106 playoff games under his belt, not the guy with a goose egg (well one, he faced a whopping 3 shots).

I do love saying conkblock though...

[Guest Shoreline]

To me who has the rings means nothing when you have two goalies who can start. The defense hasn't played good enough for most of the first half of the season to put even the bulk of the blame on Ozzie (and the stats don't necessarily blame him either as he has a much lower chance of stopping quality shots -- i.e. 2 on 1 or breakaway), the PK has been awful. Just go with who is winning games. It was a winning formula during the season and especially in the playoffs. I think at the end of the season the Wings can begin to assess the possibility of another goalie. If there's one thing many old timers know about Ozzie and especially goalies if they've been glorified when winning, and scapegoated when losing quite a while over the last decade or so.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Shoreline

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

Say what you want about Osgood and his play.

How is it not clear to 100% of the hockey World that Conklin has earned the #1 role in the last month? I don't even know how this is debateable.