Chris Osgood- What do we do?

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Not really. He did let a shot like that in... more than one, in fact. He's been known to let in the occasional long range stinker. But, if you dig for dirt, you can find some stinkers that almost any great goalie has let it, be it due to their depth perception or attitude (Patty Waaaagh Statue of Liberty, anyone?).

Again, the Wings got rid of them simply because they had a chance to grab Hasek, who at his peak, is probably the most impressive goaltender to ever play the game.

Ozzie, meanwhile, dragged a horrible Islanders team kicking and screaming into the playoffs. Ozzie has never had a losing season, even playing on garbage like the Isles and St Louis.. in fact, he put up a respectable .910 SV% on both of those teams, which is rather impressive if you realize the quality of scoring chances he was facing on those teams as opposed to what he had faced in Detroit. He also played a career high 67 games on that St. Louis team, and had a 2.24 GAA. That's comparable to Brodeur's 99-00 season, where he posted a .910 SV% and a 2.24 GAA in 72 games, on a NJ team that was, frankly, a lot better.

But anyhow, enough with the pointing out that Osgood has actually had an impressive career.. LGW might overload. Besides, this thread is about how he's doing now, which.. well, isn't up to those levels, but fortunately is improving.

Isn't that the truth? You're going to be labeled an Ozzie sympathizer pretty soon.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

like last playoffs?

good god people here have short memories.

He was the backup, what's your point?

Also, Ms. Hockey I like your point and can see why Babcock would do that as I feel that if both goalies are playinig their A games that I would want Osgood in before Conklin, so I hope Osgood picks it up before April but if things continue the way they are I don't see how Conklin isn't #1

Edited January 19, 2009 by Never_Retire_Steve

[Datsyerberger 279]

Isn't that the truth? You're going to be labeled an Ozzie sympathizer pretty soon.

No worries, I'm pretty much a self-proclaimed Ozzie sympathizer and supporter.. hell, I believe he has a chance of being considered a top 20 all-time goaltender by the end of his career. Doesn't mean I'm particularly fond of his play right now.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

No worries, I'm pretty much a self-proclaimed Ozzie sympathizer and supporter.. hell, I believe he has a chance of being considered a top 20 all-time goaltender by the end of his career. Doesn't mean I'm particularly fond of his play right now.

I think this is a problem in itself, people are looking at the past and are willing to give Ozzie the benefit of the doubt.

Not saying that this is something that should be ignored completely but I think we need to eliminate some of the bias from his great play last spring and some of his past accomplishments and look at the situation on the surface and things will be clearer.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Osgood in his prime is better than Conklin in his prime. We've all seen this, regardless of how good Conklin is doing now, or how dismal Osgood is doing. I think Babcock's line of thought right now is that we still have three months until playoffs, and he's doing what he can to get Osgood onto an improving track, hence his regular appearances in the lineup despite his horrible play. I think we would all prefer an optimum Osgood starting over an optimum Conklin, and worst case scenario is that that never happens, and we just ride an optimun Conklin through the playoffs.

At least we know now that we can at least stay within one goal of the Sharks with an inferior goalie, poor penalty killing and discipline, and horrible defensive breakdowns at clutch moments in the game. Overall I think we'll be fine.

[mackel 763]

Very true.

Shots against in Ozzie's last 3 GP: 118

Shots against in Ty's last 3 GP: 68

Explain that.

I'd love to try... how about this:

When Conks is in the defence has confidence he'll make a few saves, therefore they can play loose.

When Ozzie is in the defence feels (and rightly so) they need to be near spot on perfect or the red lamp will be burnin bright, therefore they play tight and are prone to error.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

It would be interesting to see how many goalie threads are started in a calendar year in LGW.

[HomeNugget 2]

Every coach coaches differently. You and I may not agree with Babs' decision to keep rotating back & forth - but it's his decision. I can fully understand why he played Ozzie in the SJ game on Saturday night. If I were him, I would take that and NOT play him against high intensity/skill level teams for the rest of the regular season. Put him in against "easier" teams.

As long as this is all figured out by April, I won't have much to say. Until then, I'll just trust Babs to find the right formula to get the goaltending back where it needs to be.

Nabokov has allowed a combined 11 goals the last two games against Detroit. Do you think McLellan will start sitting him against high intensity/skill level teams?

[#19=Legend 29]

Nabokov has allowed a combined 11 goals the last two games against Detroit. Do you think McLellan will start sitting him against high intensity/skill level teams?

This

Which just adds to my point. If we had scored 7 in the SJ game this thread would not exist.

Until of course Ozzy lost then someone would start it up.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Nabokov has allowed a combined 11 goals the last two games against Detroit. Do you think McLellan will start sitting him against high intensity/skill level teams?

Depends. I don't know how consistent of a goaltender Nabokov is. I know Ozzie is capable of stepping up to the plate - but let's face it.. he hasn't this season. He's not been a very solid goalie one way or another.

I'm not saying it's what Babs SHOULD do. Just saying it's what I'd do as motivation to get him to get in gear.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'd love to try... how about this:

When Conks is in the defence has confidence he'll make a few saves, therefore they can play loose.

When Ozzie is in the defence feels (and rightly so) they need to be near spot on perfect or the red lamp will be burnin bright, therefore they play tight and are prone to error.

So your argument is that when Ozzy is in net the defense doesn't feel confident, therefore tries harder to play good defense and therefore f***s up? but with Conklin they don't have to focus so much on defense so they play better defense? So in essence it's Ozzy's fault the defense allows more shots on him?

The most revealing part of your post is the "and rightly so." It's not only Ozzy's fault for the goals he lets in. It's now also his fault for the defense giving up more shots.

That's seriously asinine.

[soultrain 43]

i hope ozzy gets into the hall of fame. i would also like to see the red wings retire his number. i vowed never to say anything bad about the guy after he won the stanley cup last year. he has been such a wonderful person in the organization. i have seen our defense blow all season. sometimes they have great games...other games we let ozzy/conklin face 40+ shots. our goalies are not the problem. the defense is the problem. and yes i know that we have the deepest d-core in the league. they need to start playing like it.

[Grim 5]

Nabokov has allowed a combined 11 goals the last two games against Detroit. Do you think McLellan will start sitting him against high intensity/skill level teams?

yes... if he had a backup that could shutout detroit.

[gcom007 1,465]

Conklin = Legace.

Babcock better not make that mistake again.

Pretty much.

But that year, Osgood made up for a weak and injury ridden first half with a far superior second half in which he outplayed Legace.

It would be nice to see a bit of that this year.

I don't think Conks has what it takes and I think he's been a career backup for a reason. Sorry, I'm just not going to go along with it. I refused to go along with it with Legace despite everyone on here being so convinced and look how that turned out.

I don't think Osgood's played up to his potential to say the least, but I don't think the D has either and it goes hand in hand. Both parties need to tighten things up.

That said, I do believe we will see a different Osgood come playoff time. I think he knows the score and will know how to get his intensity up when it matters most. As much as y'all love to get all irrational and up in arms any chance you can get, I think this whole situation will smooth out in time and thankfully, pro's aren't as ridiculous as fans and thus will make sensible, rational choices. I trust their judgment and I still trust Osgood. Things change, but not that fast.

Didn't they win us a Cup less than a year ago?

Relax and give it time...

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I just want to say to those of you that believe that players don't play differently in front of different goalies, I think you are wrong.

[gcom007 1,465]

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.

Are you kidding me? Legace was the only goalie in the last 15 years that can absorb as much or more of the blame for playoff failure as the team. He was terrible. Usually the team plays bad and the goalie plays alright or even great. Remember Cujo in his last hellish year here? He was our best player in the playoffs but we couldn't put the damn puck in the net to save our lives. That was not the case with Legace. Legace was just plain bad.

And for the love, distaste this year or not aside, you can't take anything away from Ozzie's playoff performance last year. It was nearly flawless in every regard. 2 shutouts to open up the Stanley Cup Finals against the NHL's golden boy??? He was nothing short of outstanding with a Conn Smythe-caliber performance. He could suck even worse this year, but you cannot take what he did on last years Cup run away from him. It was near-perfection.

I bet he feels dooped now after sticking around for hours and hours after the parade signing autographs for fans. Oh how quickly people can turn against you...

[Outsider 42]

Pretty much.

But that year, Osgood made up for a weak and injury ridden first half with a far superior second half in which he outplayed Legace.

It would be nice to see a bit of that this year.

I don't think Conks has what it takes and I think he's been a career backup for a reason. Sorry, I'm just not going to go along with it. I refused to go along with it with Legace despite everyone on here being so convinced and look how that turned out.

I don't think Osgood's played up to his potential to say the least, but I don't think the D has either and it goes hand in hand. Both parties need to tighten things up.

That said, I do believe we will see a different Osgood come playoff time. I think he knows the score and will know how to get his intensity up when it matters most. As much as y'all love to get all irrational and up in arms any chance you can get, I think this whole situation will smooth out in time and thankfully, pro's aren't as ridiculous as fans and thus will make sensible, rational choices. I trust their judgment and I still trust Osgood. Things change, but not that fast.

Didn't they win us a Cup less than a year ago?

Relax and give it time...

I'm going to have to agree wholeheartedly here, with both gcom and with norrisnick. How quickly some forget.

And ya know, gcom...

I seriously doubt that Oz feels duped after last years Cup Parade and the subsequent celebrations. I don't think he's got that in him.

He's always been a Wing, through and through, in good times, and in bad. I don't think he'd allow a few fair weather types to color his perception of the fans he's always said were the best in the NHL.

Here's to a strong second half of the Season for the Wings in general, and for Oz, in particular.

[interminded 1]

I'm going to have to agree wholeheartedly here, with both gcom and with norrisnick. How quickly some forget.

And ya know, gcom...

I seriously doubt that Oz feels duped after last years Cup Parade and the subsequent celebrations. I don't think he's got that in him.

He's always been a Wing, through and through, in good times, and in bad. I don't think he'd allow a few fair weather types to color his perception of the fans he's always said were the best in the NHL.

Here's to a strong second half of the Season for the Wings in general, and for Oz, in particular.

Amen to that !

[Casey 145]

I'm going to have to agree wholeheartedly here, with both gcom and with norrisnick. How quickly some forget.

And ya know, gcom...

I seriously doubt that Oz feels duped after last years Cup Parade and the subsequent celebrations. I don't think he's got that in him.

He's always been a Wing, through and through, in good times, and in bad. I don't think he'd allow a few fair weather types to color his perception of the fans he's always said were the best in the NHL.

Here's to a strong second half of the Season for the Wings in general, and for Oz, in particular.

Huzzah and amen. I've seen Ozzie at his best, and he can get back there again. Whatever it is, he'll be fine when the playoffs come along.

[digitaljohn88 4]

I think Ozzy will pick it up. I said this to a friend before the San Jose game - I don't understand why our goalie that is playing well draws L.A. and Phoenix, and our goalie that needs some confidence draws Anaheim and San Jose... seems like it should have been the other way around. Ozzy obviously needs to play better anyway, but I think he can do it.

[VM1138 1,921]

I think Ozzy will pick it up. I said this to a friend before the San Jose game - I don't understand why our goalie that is playing well draws L.A. and Phoenix, and our goalie that needs some confidence draws Anaheim and San Jose... seems like it should have been the other way around. Ozzy obviously needs to play better anyway, but I think he can do it.

That's what I was thinking. The only virtue in putting Ozzie in against teams like San Jose in my mind would be the whole "Throw him in the ocean and see if he sinks or swims," but it's a little harsh in my mind. Should have let him get his confidence back first, probably. Conks, at least at this moment, can handle the tough teams and should bear the brunt of the work until Ozzie feels comfortable again.

[OsyGood 0]

Osgood is king for one.. heh. Just playing. Well I have also noticed he has been slacking a little bit. We all have seen that. Some goals you see him let in, your like, "hmmmm, rewind; I don't believe I just seen that". While others your like, "dang nobody was stopping that". The thing is that no matter how bad Osgood seems to do during the season, don't he shine in the play offs? I mean I remember the days, of some players shooting center line, cause Osgood was known to fumble with those shots. But just sit back relax, Red Wings have great talent, and will come out of the slump there in. That teams is like an All-star team all in itself.

[DMAC 25 18]

I don't know what else to say about him. What's happened to him? I know he's an average goaltender, but if you give up 4-6 goals a game there's an issue. Osgood's got 3 regulation loses, but all of those he should have won. The San Jose game was a disaster. Tired Red Wings team plays solid offense and Osgood's screws it up by giving up 2 breakaway goals.

I just don't know what to say.

Should they bench him and tell him to get it together? Maybe trade him? Did the defense bail him out last year in the playoffs or was he in the zone?

Indifferent right now.

Discuss.

i know the season for him has been tough but it will work itself out, everyone always has their off years and hes having one this year. for now though just keep conks in net and we'll be fine and then if ozzie isnt better next year then you know that we need to get rid of him, but hes had years like this, like the year he broke his hand the next year he did awful but then bounced back, it'll work out though

[softshoes 83]

That has to be the greatest sentence in the history of hockey.

++1. Stoopid goalie giving up breakaway goals. 2 in one game, my word. Next thing you know he'll be giving up odd man rushes.

Edited January 20, 2009 by softshoes

[clutchngrab 12]

Very true.

Shots against in Ozzie's last 3 GP: 118

Shots against in Ty's last 3 GP: 68

Explain that.

Easy - the team has lost confidence in him as well.