By many, Chris Osgood was never considered an elite goaltender. In fact, drafted in the third round by the Detroit Red Wings, his presence did little in the beginning to strike fear in the competition. But low and behold, we sit here some years later, watching the man affectionately known as “Ozzie” skate off into the sunset, while we debate his hall of fame credentials…not bad for an undersized goaltender from Peace River, Alberta, Canada.

Osgood retires with a final record of 401-216-66, a career save percentage of .905 and 3 Stanley Cup rings. The rings along make him a strong candidate for the NHL Hall of Fame, but let’s not forget about the overall record. Chris Osgood has won 401 games in his NHL career, which is an impressive stat no matter which goaltender we are mentioning.

Statistics aside, Osgood has become a fan favorite of the beloved Detroit Red Wings—a homegrown goaltender drafted by the team that grew up before our eyes, while under the tutelage of some great coaches over the years. Osgood is as much a part of Detroit as other notable athletes, such as __________.

However, his career has not always been pretty. Osgood will be remembered for his early career struggles, including many notable soft goals, as well as his tearful interview with the media following them. Much like Detroit and the entire state of Michigan, in fact, Osgood fought, clawed and worked, until he had not only endeared himself to fans, but also make quite the name for himself as a dependable starting goaltender in the NHL. Osgood has brought the Cup to Detroit on more than one occasion, engrained himself into the community, and even fought all-star goaltender Patrick Roy in a memorable game against, then, hated rivals the Colorado Avalanche.

The point I am making is that Chris Osgood may not have been born and raised in Detroit, but he is every bit a part of its fighting spirit, and its desire for greatness. Many times he was never given his due, written off as undersized, inconsistent and mentally fragile. But ask any Detroiter and they will tell you, Chris Osgood is not only a sure bet hall of famer, but, also, one of Detroit’s favorite citizens. He deserves to be in the hall of fame, his numbers and career stats reflect that, but his heart and soul make it a necessity. As Osgood embodies everything we wish for in an athlete: humility, excellent work ethic, talented, but, most of all, rich in that elusive characteristic that cannot be coached…heart.

Author: Doug Stanley