Detroit Red Wings Chris Osgood is Hall of Fame Worthy

Chris Osgood doesn't have a Hall of Fame reputation, but he has some of the best numbers of any goalie in the NHL. Osgood also has four Stanley Cups to prove he's a champion. No one doubts whether Osgood is a great goalie, but the question remains, is he Hall of Fame worthy? The discrepancy lies in the fact that Osgood has always played for the Red Wings, a team that has largely dominated the sport of hockey for the last decade.

Over the last 15 seasons the Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups and are close to winning their fifth. Skeptics believe that Osgood has had success because of the talent of the team around him. The simple fact remains that without great goaltending the Red Wings never would've won a single Stanley Cup. It takes a good all-around team to make it to the Cup Finals but winning requires a goalie to be the best player on the ice.

Osgood is one of the most consistent performers on the Red Wings squad. Before their playoff run, Osgood posted some of the worst numbers during the regular season he has ever had. His goals-against average were the worst that they have been in his career at 3.09 GAA. His save percentage was also terrible at .887, which is also the worst of his career. Despite this, the Red Wings went 26-9-8 and moved Osgood into 10^th place all-time for NHL victories. Osgood also ranks second with 305 wins with the Wings.

Osgood has two years left on his contract and could catch Terry Sawchuck at 351 wins for 1^st place. Osgood is also among the NHL's winningest goaltenders and is the winningest goaltender in Red Wings playoff history. Some people believe that these credentials will earn Osgood a place in the Hall of Fame in Toronto. When you compare the numbers of goalies like Patrick Roy, Osgood is right there. He has fantastic numbers now, and it will be a few years before he retires so he will have time to add to those numbers. He has Stanley Cups as the number one goalie, Cups in two different eras, and in two different decades with different Red Wings teams.

All of this wouldn't even have been possible if Osgood had not resurrected his career after the lockout. By reinventing himself Osgood has made a one-of-a-kind comeback. In the 2005-2006 season he was waived after the Red Wings signed star goaltender Dominik Hasek. In the 2007-2008 season Osgood worked on his game and perfected a new tighter butterfly style of goaltending which saw him nominated into the All-Star game. When Hasek struggled against Nashville in the playoffs that season, Osgood stepped in and delivered the goods. In those playoffs, Osgood had a spectacular 1.55 goals-against average and led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup.

Throughout Osgood's career he has proven he is a Stanley Cup performer. Just ask the fans at Joe Louis Arena. They will respond with the chant "Ozzie, Ozzie!" with every save he makes.