Baroque's Study of Osgood's HHoF Credentials

WIIM's own Baroque has a great writeup that explores Osgood's career in context and attempts to decide whether he does deserve a spot in the HHoF. I know that the discussion has been done over and over and over, but I recommend you read this. Baroque does an excellent job at making the case start from the hypothesis and not from her own conclusion. Not many writers can do that.

over 1 year ago J.J. from Kansas 7 comments 0 recs |

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This is an awesome read

Even though I’ve recently begun leaning towards Ozzy’s induction to the HOF, I’ve always had the idea that Ozzy wouldn’t be considered among the best of all time when he’s often not considered among the best of his own time, but numbers don’t lie. Stacked teams or not, Ozzy’s got the decade of dominance necessary to make it.

Think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! --George Carlin

by J_Stone on Jan 3, 2011 4:40 PM CST reply actions

Thank you!

It was a good exercise for me, too, because so often arguments are made based on “he doesn’t SEEM like that good of a player” or “I don’t know, he just LOOKS like a Hall-of-Famer” and I wondered how he actually compared to other goaltenders in the Hall, future inductees, or goaltenders he is playing with now.

I was surprised his numbers were so much better than other goaltenders’ numbers, because I perceived a lot of other goalies as being better than they actually are. The winning percentage is a blunt instrument, but still gives some interesting information.

And I also hate the argument “anyone could have won with that team.” Curtis Joseph didn’t. Manny Legace didn’t. And if all it takes is a stacked offense to make an average goaltender look good, then why don’t the Sharks have a Cup banner? Or Vancouver, because they have had some high-scoring teams, too. At some point you have to give the goaltender a little credit, too – not all of it, but he isn’t nothing.

Before I started I would have said I was lukewarm on Osgood belonging in the Hall, but now I think he really does. To keep him out would be judging him on a standard appropriate to a different time, instead of the standard that is appropriate for this era of the modern NHL, and that isn’t fair.

Random Ramblings from a Somewhat Scattered Mind

"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

by Baroque on Jan 3, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

Hasek wasn’t able to win the second time around, and Ozzy bailed him out, too. Cheveldae and Essina also were unable to win with essentially the same stacked team as well. (Just figured 5 goalies is better than 2 for that list)

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 4, 2011 6:44 AM CST up reply actions

Very nice read Miss B

And I remember when you didnt want to start a blog. Pshhhh

Go for it

by DetroitSports on Jan 3, 2011 7:03 PM CST reply actions

this is under duress!

If it was up to me I’d still just be happily commenting. :P

Random Ramblings from a Somewhat Scattered Mind

"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

by Baroque on Jan 3, 2011 8:53 PM CST up reply actions

Great Read!

Baroque’s ramblings =) reinforce what many of us already knew – Ozzie is a great goalie. I still have this dream that Ozzie will be called on as in 2008 to lead playoff Wings to SC…and suceeds by playing like against Avs last week. Nothing against Jimmy who I want to suceed as goalie of the future…just want The Oz to be able to make the doubters eat their words. And frankly, he deserves it for hanging in there while having the 2nd toughest job in Detroit.

by wingsluver4ever on Jan 3, 2011 9:02 PM CST reply actions