I'm not ready for Ozzie to retire!

by Kendal on Jul 12, 2011 5:40 PM CDT

Hate on me if you will (and I know there is some of that out there), but after reading a few stories today on the backup goalie situation for the Red Wings, I've got to admit it to myself (and everyone else too apparently) that I'm simply not ready for Chris Osgood to retire.

He's too good of a teammate, too good of a role model / support mechanism for Jimmy, too good of a guy to the organization, and too good of a goalie (ok, here it is - WHEN HE'S HEALTHY) to see him go.

If he's healthy, he can give the Wings 15-20 wins - as one of the papers put it today - he's the perfect backup: 400 wins, great relationship with Jimmy, great in the locker room, isn't confused about his role, loves the organization, etc.

So that's it. It's just my opinion, and now it's out there - I'm not ready to see him go, I'm not ready for that press conference, I'm not ready to not see his baby face on the bench for most of the season charting shots, I'm not ready to not see him come in and relieve Jimmy when some other cheap shot artist (Cory Perry) slew foots or spears him, I'm not ready to not see him take over the reigns in the playoffs if Jimmy falters like Dom did in 2008.

Say whatever you want about Osgood - but the dude has earned my respect over the years. I NEVER saw myself writing this 5-7 years ago, I'm not the biggest Ozzie supporter out there, but I will say this. The guy is a big moment goalie. You need a save, at a critical point in a game, in a game you have to have....my $$ is on Ozzie to make the save. The man won two Stanley Cups as a Starter, and was a Shared-Starter all year in 1997 - Scotty flipped a coin and it came up Vernon - the Wings don't win the Cup in 2008 with Hasek, they won it with Ozzie. Big moment goalie - nuff said.

Based on the article I read today (I think it was the Detroit News), if Ozzie can convice Kenny that he's not going to be an invalid / injury case like he was last year, our backup goalie will once again be Mr. Future HHOF goalie - Chris Osgood.

Post up your stance, I'm big enough to write this, so I guess I'm big enough to take whatever anyone else wants to toss my way.

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Comments

In Holland I Trust...

its apparent he wants a security blanked. With Ozzie getting hurt and not being able to make it back from his injury there is too much risk. Its all about whats best for the team and if Holland believes that Ozzie is a liability then its time to move on.

But if there isn’t anything better out there then ozzie it is. I love ozzie, but i loving winging the cup more.

Thanks for the year Red Wings!! Come back strong in 2012

by Veihl789 on Jul 12, 2011 8:05 PM CDT reply actions

I'm ready

It’s time OZ! As with all players, and with the nostalgic badge they wear, retirement in sports is inevitable. When you reach the end, know it, own it, move on. We need a major player in goal, and or backup. Thanks for all the great memories OZ but, you no longer have the tools to provide more. You’ll be missed!

Expectations don't produce!

by 2manyears on Jul 18, 2011 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

ray emery

i wouldn’t mind him as a backup….if vokun didn’t really get offers emery isn’t going to either

by SLAUGHTERHOUSE on Jul 12, 2011 8:11 PM CDT reply actions

As I have said numerous times...

He disrupted the locker room in Philly, Ottawa, and freaking Russia. I do not want him anywhere near our team.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jul 12, 2011 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

really ? unaware of that one ....i guess id agree but i think our team has the leadersip to handle it.

by SLAUGHTERHOUSE on Jul 12, 2011 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I wrote a long comment yesterday about why I would choose Franzen (and, by association, Hudler) over Hossa any day of the week. The main reason was that there is more to being a Red Wing than winning or putting on the jersey. You have to accept our culture and traditions and just the entire function of our franchise. In short: we have been spoiled by loyalty.

Emery does not fit this. MacDonald, Ozzy, Jimmy, and Conklin do.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jul 12, 2011 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

I can’t say I’d mind having Conklin on the team, but my heart remains with Ozzy, at least for this next season.

"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."
-Jacques Plante

by DetroitSports on Jul 12, 2011 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

If Ozzie's healthy and his head is still in it, then Holland should not hesitate to sign him again

But those are not simple “ifs”. I’m a huge supporter, I would love to see him on the team again. I would love to see Conklin, but my heart still wants to see Ozzie again. Whatever Holland decides though, as usual, I will support.

by tehGOALIE on Jul 12, 2011 10:35 PM CDT reply actions

I was ready for Osgood to retire last year.

Mentally prepared that it. I know with his 35+ contract that would’ve screwed the Wings but he’s been so awful the past three seasons that I just don’t want to have to go through another season of weak goals.

The back up has to win some games too and at this stage Ozzie has none of my faith.

I guess, if that’s the way the brass decides to go, I’ll be pulling for him, but I expect another high 3’s GAA and another low 800 save percentage.

by eight_legged_freaks on Jul 13, 2011 4:48 AM CDT reply actions

If Ozzie is actually better I would like to see him at least get to 403 wins.

but I also said in a post yesterday, that Conklin always seems to post a shutout against us, when he plays. I would love to have him wrapped up and saved. Spend some of our cap for a 2B goalie (I know we just signed Joey Mac) and just have him sit in the Leino Lounge with Mursak and Emmerton. That way next year if Ozzie is done, then we still have Conklin.

I want them both.

I'm a Homer

by holmstrom96 on Jul 13, 2011 7:16 AM CDT reply actions

403 Wins

Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for Ozzie to move up the All Time Wins list, I am. But this post has nothing to do with him being #7 or whatever in All Time Wins – if he’s healthy, I think he’s the guy that gets us 15-20 wins as the backup to Jimmy.

Yes, I’ll admit that there is some sentimentality in the post and in my opinion, but really, it’s not about passing Grant Fuhr, it’s mostly about going out on his own terms, having a good season and saying – like Mike Vrabel just did with the KC Chiefs – “I’m not willing to put in the offseason work to get ready to play another full NHL season”, rather than having that decision made for him because he’s taking up a roster spot that a kid from GR would be better filling.

I don’t want Ray Emery – at all – ever. In addition to all the scuttlebut about disrupting the locker room in various places, he was most recently a Duck. Hate the Ducks, simply hate them. Cheap shot artists – all of them, goalies included.

by Kendal on Jul 13, 2011 9:36 AM CDT reply actions

I'm done with him.

His last 3 seasons have done absolutely nothing to inspire confidence in him. 15 wins? Maybe in spite of his play. To get his last 15 regular season wins, you have to go back 39 starts to March 9, 2009. Two full seasons and a month of another shoved in there. “But he was injured!” Yep, he’s old, thanks for hypothetically making that point for me. “But the team was wroth with injuries!” Yet Howard won. “But the team defense was terrible!” Not in ‘09-10, nor in ’08-09 where he won but posted abhorrent numbers. Team defense doesn’t make peewee level wrist shots routinely squeeze 5-hold on you either.

I’m glad and grateful and love the guy, but it’s time to become an amateur golfer and fuel the hall of fame debate. I would rather see MacDonald as the backup, and I don’t want MacDonald as the backup either. Bring on the Conkblocker.

I hate Jonathon Ericsson.

by Brion on Jul 13, 2011 10:08 AM CDT reply actions

You also would not be ready for the Wings to start him and start losing every game or him getting very injured. I rest my case.

by Ruby11 on Jul 13, 2011 5:22 PM CDT reply actions

I agree... i mean, i honestly don't see much difference between Ozzie and Conklin

Conk is what, 35?? Not like we’re getting much younger there.. might as well let ozzie stay at this point.. if we got Vokoun or something its a different story, but I can’t see Conklin being a whole lot better than Osgood..

by kylegroombridge on Jul 13, 2011 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

We don’t want younger for our backup, though. We want a vet with a load of experience who can step in at a moment’s notice and play his ass off just as well as Jimmy would. It isn’t like 3-4 years ago when our goalies were Ozzy and Hasek with the youngsters being Jimmy and Joey Mac and neither was ready to play in the NHL. We want an older goalie with playoff experience who is willing to play the backup role.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jul 14, 2011 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm in mourning today...

I was ok with all of it yesterday, but today, I’m just sad – I wanted Ozzie to be back with the Wings and be healthy so he could retire when he wanted to, rather than when his body betrayed him and forced him to make the decision.

I applaud the man for admitting to himself and Ken Holland that he couldn’t promise that he wasn’t going to get hurt again and standing up, being a man, and doing what was best for the team.

I think that decision and the way in which it got made typifies Ozzie – he does what’s best for the team. Whether it’s fighting Patrick Roy, making a big save to win a game on the ice, charting shots to help Jimmy win, coaching/mentoring Jimmy, or now coaching the kids down in GR – he does what’s best for the team.

Like him in net or not – you’ve got to respect someone who isn’t there for himself, he’s there for the team.

I’ll miss you Ozzie, but I know we’ll see you lots with the Wings in other capacities.

Kendal

by Kendal on Jul 20, 2011 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs

+1

This sums up about how I’m feeling, except I wasn’t ok with it yesterday either. When I first got online and saw the headlines, it brought tears to my eyes. It’s what’s best given all the circumstances, but of course I wanted Ozzy to go out on a higher note. Lifting the cup one more time and defying all the haters one last time. It’s just like him to not even do a press conference though and keep it low key. I’ve always loved Ozzy as much for who he is off the ice as his on ice achievements. I can’t say enough about his character, and in this blog I don’t need to because I know I’m not alone in my appreciation.

Thanks for a great career Ozzie, for the memories, for the thrills, and for being who you are. I’ll miss you.

by SlapshotGoal on Jul 20, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I think my son put it best

I told him last night about Ozzie retiring, and he said he was sad – mostly because “…in his lifetime and in all this time he’s loved the Red Wings, other than Dominic Hasek, there’s been only one other goalie who’s gotten us to the playoffs and to the Stanley Cup – Chris Osgood. So other than Dom, if for no other reason than the fact that he’s always been there, he’s been my favorite, he’s the goalie of the Red Wings, and I’ll miss seeing him there.”

I think I was ok yesterday because although I said in the original post that I wasn’t ready for the annoucement, I had been prepped to expect it, so I wasn’t surprised and though I was a little sad yesterday, today I am in mourning. I watched Ozzie celebrate that night in Washington DC (yes, I was AT the game when they won), and I’ll miss seeing him in a Red Wings uniform (with that outdated and really hard to find mask).

by Kendal on Jul 20, 2011 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions