Red Wings look toward the post-Chris Osgood era

[titanium2 867]

Red Wings look toward the post-Chris Osgood era

Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Chris Osgood has joked about it on various occasions.

The only other position in Detroit pro sports that compares with Osgood's goaltending position in terms of notoriety is quarterback of the Lions.

"People always want to talk about those two positions," Osgood mused recently. "They always have an opinion."

Good luck, Matthew Stafford -- you'll need it.

In hockey, there's no secret why goaltending is so important -- or why a goalie is a magnet for criticism or praise.

A good team can't go far in the playoffs without a goaltender who consistently makes timely saves -- and not allow a confidence-sapping, momentum-killing bad goal.

It's the most important position in hockey. Always will be.

Osgood, who has backstopped the Wings to two Stanley Cups, is penciled in to be the starter for the next two seasons. At age 36, he seems capable for the job -- physically and mentally.

But how about after Osgood?

Despite Ty Conklin's departure in free agency, the Wings do have talented young goaltenders waiting in the wings. Jimmy Howard, Thomas McCollum and Daniel Larsson are high-round draft picks with seemingly bright futures.

"We like the depth," said Jim Nill, the Wings' assistant general manager. "They've done a good job of progressing, getting better. They just need experience."

With Conklin gone, Howard will back up Osgood in 2009-10. Howard has spend the last four years in Grand Rapids developing his game.

McCollum and Larsson will split time with the Griffins, with former Notre Dame goalie Jordan Pearce, an undrafted free agent, likely to be placed in a lower-level minor league.

Here's how the Wings' goaltending stacks up two months before training camp begins:

Chris Osgood

This past season was an absolute night-and-day experience.

After a rocky regular season, one in which Osgood was exiled for 10 days to work on his game, he rebounded late in the season and was a potential playoff Most Valuable Player candidate.

Osgood said his struggles this season won't happen again. The mental focus wasn't there from the start of the season, and Osgood will learn from that experience.

"To me, I look at positives in the past. I take negatives and I use them as positives. That's why I'm still playing," Osgood said. "That's why I'm still here. I don't dwell on things that happened. I don't beat myself up over something that's happened during the regular season.

"I use that regular season to make sure next season that doesn't happen, and I can guarantee it won't. I don't look at it (as), 'Oh my gosh, it's going to happen again next year.'

"I think about all the things that I've done, and I take things that haven't worked out so well and I use them to my advantage. I try to use everything to make myself better on the ice."

Coach Mike Babcock expects Osgood's focus to be spot-on from the start.

"I've said this a number of times: I think Ozzie has been a really good goaltender in the league for the last three years, technically," Babcock said. "He got his game back, reestablished himself, learned how to butterfly. He's been good.

"His focus this year was like the rest of ours -- not very good. Now he has that back, and he's had it back for some time, and he's played well for us. He's got to feel pretty good about himself."

Jimmy Howard

The Wings' second-round pick in 2003 has apprenticed four years in Grand Rapids and has ached for his chance.

Now he has it.

In 2008-09, the 25-year-old Howard was 21-18-4 with the Griffins, with four shutouts, a .916 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average -- all career bests.

"It's time to see what Jimmy can do," general manager Ken Holland said.

A minor concern is Howard's ineffectiveness in brief appearances with the Wings. In nine games with the Wings, Howard is 1-5 with a 2.76 GAA and .896 save percentage.

The Wings believe Howard will do better in the NHL with more consistent playing time.

Athletic, and in better shape than when he became a pro, Howard is slated to get 20 to 30 starts with the Wings in 2009-10. But what if he proves incapable of handling the responsibility?

The Wings would likely look outside the organization to find a veteran backup by the trade deadline.

The salary cap isn't as big an issue late in the season, and there are always veteran netminders available. With a veteran team capable of winning the Stanley Cup, the Wings won't entrust the backup position to a youngster from Grand Rapids.

Thomas McCollum

The 2008 first-round pick will begin his pro career with the Griffins this season.

At 6-2 and 205 pounds, McCollum, 19, has good size and is athletic in net. He was 34-16-4 with a .927 save percentage with Brampton in the Ontario League last season.

Wings goaltending consultant Jim Bedard liked what he saw of McCollum during the recent prospects camp at Joe Louis Arena.

"You can see things have slowed down for him," Bedard said. "He stays square and uses his size to his advantage. He lets the puck come to him. He has the size, and even when he's on his knees, he still covers a lot of the net.

"I like his athleticism for his size, and patience, and composure."

Said McCollum: "I'm really looking forward to taking the next step. I always want to play at the highest level possible. It's going to be an adjustment. The guys get off their shots a lot quicker. The speed of the game (is faster)."

Daniel Larsson

Larsson might have surprised the Wings with his impressive play with the Griffins. At 23, he has the capability play in the NHL.

The 2006 third-round pick was 22-12-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .907 save percentage with the Griffins. Larsson challenged Howard for playing time all season.

"He did everything asked of him," Nill said. "He had a good season. Now, you just want to see continued development."

Larsson isn't real big (6-foot) but plays with a lot of savvy, is technically sound and has faced high-level competition in Sweden for a number of years. His composure is a strength.

Jordan Pearce

The Wings signed Pearce as an undrafted free agent last season.

With Notre Dame, Pearce, 22, was 23-11-4 with a .914 save percentage and 2.04 GAA. He played well in a number of big games in college.

"That's one of the things we liked," Nill said. "He's a big body (6-1, 200) and he's played well in pressure situations."

Scouting Reports

Jimmy Howard: http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/howard.php

Daniel Larsson: http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/larsson.php

Thomas McCollum: http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/mccollum.php

Jordan Pearce: http://www.redwingscentral.com/stories/200...0_RWCReport.php

Edited July 19, 2009 by titanium2

[Dimaline312000 51]

I'm most excited about Thomas McCollum.!! I think he is a good up and coming prospect goal tender and I say give him 2 to 3 seasons and he will be ready to take the reins as No. 1 Goalie. If Ozzie can hang in there that long; just enough time for McCollum to get fully developed I think he'll be able to be the Starting Goalie.

I'm confident in Howard's ability to be a back-up but I just don't know how he would handle the responsibility of being the Number 1 guy. Larsson I think could probably be a startging goalie in a couple more years but I really feel that McCollum would do a better job. I see Pearce not sticking around any longer than his contract; if he even is around for all of it. I read somewhere that Ozzie and Howard were going to be in Detroit and the other 3 were going to battle it out for postions in GR and the odd man out would probably be loaned to another team.

My vote goes to McCollum just give him some time and I think he can be the Numero Uno Goaltender in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in a few years.

[StevieY9802 6]

McCollum got my vote but I used to excited about Jimmy too and I'm not so much anymore.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

McCollum, I think he looks good to me.

[shoe 165]

McCollum got my vote but I used to excited about Jimmy too and I'm not so much anymore.

agreed feel the same way. Jimmy scares me, but sometimes its good to be scared. Guess we will find out what these guys are made of at their new levels of play in a few months.

[CenterIce 83]

agreed feel the same way. Jimmy scares me, but sometimes its good to be scared. Guess we will find out what these guys are made of at their new levels of play in a few months.

The poll looks exactly how I expected. More excitement for the youngest goalies that we don't have a lot of information about, and less excitement for the older more established guys. Sort of sounds like the normal theme around here, eh? I voted for Howard, because after watching some of his games during the Frozen Fours years ago, before he was drafted by the Wings, I want to see him play well at the NHL level.

[hockey&beer 16]

As long as McCollum continues to develop the Wings are sitting pretty. If he can pull a solid year in GR, look out. Young tenders rely heavily on confidence that's part of the reason that Ozzie became who he is, the org stood behind him at a young age. Legace was ruined by his lack of confidence and unfortunately, Howard may suffer the same fate.

[titanium2 867]

As long as McCollum continues to develop the Wings are sitting pretty. If he can pull a solid year in GR, look out. Young tenders rely heavily on confidence that's part of the reason that Ozzie became who he is, the org stood behind him at a young age. Legace was ruined by his lack of confidence and unfortunately, Howard may suffer the same fate.

Has confidence been an issue with Howard? Like when they report that Howard is inconsistent, is it that he's inconsistent in his confidence level? That's kind of worrisome.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

I too look forward to the post-Osgood era. I was hoping it would begin this season. We need some more security between the pipes.

[Guest mindfly]

Larsson is the man

[Peleshob 0]

I think Larsson is actually the guy to watch out for, with McCollum right behind him. Larsson came into his first year with Grand Rapids last season and played just as good, if not better than Howard. His biggest issue is conditioning, and once he overcomes that he's going to be a good goaltender. I think McCollum is in a similar place. If he can going into the AHL next season and put together a good season, I think he'll be able to ride the confidence.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Hey, why not a Steve Mason esque year for McCollum next season?

[The Wizard of Oz 0]

ozzy is the man. i hope the wings renew his contract when it is up in 2 years. he is solid in postseason every year.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Larsson, just because I have zero hope for Howard, don't know anything about Pearce and don't think McCollum will be ready for a couple of years.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

ozzy is the man. i hope the wings renew his contract when it is up in 2 years. he is solid in postseason every year.

Yeah "solid" in the postseason at best. How about finally getting a goalie that is more than "solid." Plus, Osgood look below average in the finals, he didn't look too good against the Blackhawks either. And add that with the fact that throughout the entire regular season he had the WORST GAA and the WORST save % in the ENTIRE LEAGUE (including all team's backup goalies). And now he's yet another year older. No way in hell his contract gets renewed. I'll be counting down the days till his contract is up. Then we can finally have some security between the pipes.

Edited July 19, 2009 by TheDetroitRedWings

[Packer487 3]

I'm still holding out hope for Jimmy Howard. I know McCollum put up great numbers in the OHL, but the only time I've gotten to see him was during World Juniors when he was just BRUTAL. Maybe he just had a bad tourney, but it wasn't a good first impression, that's for sure!

I'm not sure where Kulfan got his numbers about Pearce. It looks like he went with Pearce's numbers from his junior year, because that was his GAA/Save %/Win total, but he didn't get the losses right. Last year he posted crazy good numbers. It was something along the lines of 30-6-3, 1.67, .931.....Don't know how that slipped past the editor. I knew it was wrong the second I read it, since there was no way ND lost 11 times last year....

[Peleshob 0]

I'm still holding out hope for Jimmy Howard. I know McCollum put up great numbers in the OHL, but the only time I've gotten to see him was during World Juniors when he was just BRUTAL. Maybe he just had a bad tourney, but it wasn't a good first impression, that's for sure!

The whole US team was brutal, to be honest. He was getting beat on a lot of 2nd and 3rd chances too. Fleury wasn't exactly great in his World Juniors when Canada won silver and look at him now. I think people can put too much stock in what happens at the WJ's (not you, just people in general).

I watched all the playoffs games against Windsor and he was actually pretty sharp, moreso in the 3rd and 4th games. He can be clutch, but like the article says, he needs to slow his game down a bit. Rely more on the angles than his reflexes.

[titanium2 867]

The whole US team was brutal, to be honest. He was getting beat on a lot of 2nd and 3rd chances too. Fleury wasn't exactly great in his World Juniors when Canada won silver and look at him now. I think people can put too much stock in what happens at the WJ's (not you, just people in general).

Ehh... The Fleury comparison doesn't give me all that much comfort. He's like night and day and you never really know when he's going to dominate and when he's going to suck. Hopefully one of the four can be a goaltender that produces on a more stable kind of basis and I don't care if he's an all-star.

[Packer487 3]

The whole US team was brutal, to be honest. He was getting beat on a lot of 2nd and 3rd chances too. Fleury wasn't exactly great in his World Juniors when Canada won silver and look at him now. I think people can put too much stock in what happens at the WJ's (not you, just people in general).

I watched all the playoffs games against Windsor and he was actually pretty sharp, moreso in the 3rd and 4th games. He can be clutch, but like the article says, he needs to slow his game down a bit. Rely more on the angles than his reflexes.

The main game that jumps to mind is when we lost to friggin Slovakia. The US was all over them, Janus was keeping the Slovaks in it, and then McCollum would give up a terrible goal. The US would make it a game, McCollum would give up a terrible goal.

Again, it's entirely possible he just had a bad game/bad week, but he was horrifically bad (particularly in that game). At least that game, it wasn't a problem with the team in front of him, it was just God-awful goaltending.

(And to be fair, Jimmy Howard sucked in the World Juniors as well, and I'd love to see him be our goalie....it's just an issue of familiarity. I saw Howard be fantastic in college...I don't watch the OHL.)

[Lidstrom for life 20]

Yeah "solid" in the postseason at best. How about finally getting a goalie that is more than "solid." Plus, Osgood look below average in the finals, he didn't look too good against the Blackhawks either. And add that with the fact that throughout the entire regular season he had the WORST GAA and the WORST save % in the ENTIRE LEAGUE (including all team's backup goalies). And now he's yet another year older. No way in hell his contract gets renewed. I'll be counting down the days till his contract is up. Then we can finally have some security between the pipes.

Ok and who do you propose we get that is better than solid and will play for as little money as Osgood does? So he was "below average" in the finals, really? Are you going to blame our 2-1 losses on the goalie? ugh...

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Yeah "solid" in the postseason at best. How about finally getting a goalie that is more than "solid." Plus, Osgood look below average in the finals, he didn't look too good against the Blackhawks either. And add that with the fact that throughout the entire regular season he had the WORST GAA and the WORST save % in the ENTIRE LEAGUE (including all team's backup goalies). And now he's yet another year older. No way in hell his contract gets renewed. I'll be counting down the days till his contract is up. Then we can finally have some security between the pipes.

I thought that this kind of sentiment dried up during the playoffs.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Yeah "solid" in the postseason at best. How about finally getting a goalie that is more than "solid." Plus, Osgood look below average in the finals, he didn't look too good against the Blackhawks either. And add that with the fact that throughout the entire regular season he had the WORST GAA and the WORST save % in the ENTIRE LEAGUE (including all team's backup goalies). And now he's yet another year older. No way in hell his contract gets renewed. I'll be counting down the days till his contract is up. Then we can finally have some security between the pipes.

Who took Detroit too seven games in the finals this post-season?

Thank you, and never voice your opinion about Chris Osgood ever again. You obviously don't know what you are talking about.

[Guest Four]

Larsson for me, with McCollum second

[dragonballgtz 273]

Who took Detroit too seven games in the finals this post-season?

Thank you, and never voice your opinion about Chris Osgood ever again. You obviously don't know what you are talking about.

I kind of agree with him. He could of been a little sharper during the finales.

[Doc Holiday 0]

I kind of agree with him. He could of been a little sharper during the finales.

So could Stuart, Datsyuk, Hossa, Hudler, and just about everyone.

Osgood was our third best performer, AT LEAST.