Chris Osgood

Three-time Stanley Cup champion and Detroit Red Wings legend.

Christopher John Osgood (born November 26, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a Detroit Red Wings studio analyst and part-time color commentator for FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. He won three Stanley Cup championships in his career, all with the Red Wings, with his first as the backup goaltender in 1997, and his other two as the starting goaltender in 1998 and 2008. All together, he appeared in five Stanley Cup Finals during his career, again all with the Red Wings. Between the four Stanley Cups the Red Wings won between 1997 and 2008, Osgood only missed the 2002 Stanley Cup championship. He is currently ranked 13th in wins in NHL regular season history with 401.

Quick Facts

Born

26 November 1972

Birthplace

Peace River, Alberta, Canada

Position

Goaltender

Catches

Left

Played for

Detroit Red Wings
New York Islanders
St. Louis Blues

Draft

54th overall

Drafted by

Detroit Red Wings

Lore & Background

Osgood spent the first part of his 17-year NHL career with the Red Wings, then the Islanders, and afterwards the St. Louis Blues before returning to Detroit in 2005 after the NHL lockout. Osgood was known in Detroit by his nicknames 'Ozzy,' chanted by the crowd after a big save, and 'The Wizard of Oz.' He was the last NHL goalie to wear a traditional player's helmet/cage combo instead of the newer one piece goalie mask until Rick DiPietro briefly wore one of Osgood's in 2011, after he was injured in a fight with Brent Johnson. He is also one of only 17 goaltenders in NHL history to have scored a goal, and one of only nine to have scored by shooting the puck directly into the opponent's net (not an 'own goal'), on March 6, 1996 versus the Hartford Whalers.

Reader's Guide

Chris Osgood was drafted 54th overall by the Red Wings in the third round of the 1991 NHL entry draft and made his debut during the 1993–94 season. He became the fourth goaltender to man the crease for Detroit that season alongside Tim Cheveldae, Vincent Riendeau, and Peter Ing. After Cheveldae was traded, Osgood was named the primary goaltender for the playoffs. The San Jose Sharks defeated the heavily favored Red Wings in seven games. Following the season, Detroit traded defenceman Steve Chiasson to the Calgary Flames for goaltender Mike Vernon. Osgood served as a backup for Vernon in the 1994–95 season, and the Wings reached the 1995 Stanley Cup Final, where they were swept by the New Jersey Devils. In 1995–96, Osgood led the NHL with a 2.17 GAA and 39 wins, finished third in shutouts (5), and was a Vezina Trophy runner-up. He and Vernon shared the William M. Jennings Trophy. Osgood was selected for the NHL All-Star Game and named to the post-season NHL All-Star second team. That season, he scored against the Hartford Whalers, becoming the second goaltender in NHL history to score a goal after Ron Hextall. In 1996–97, Osgood and Vernon shared starting duties, but Vernon started the playoffs and led the team to the Stanley Cup, with Osgood as backup. After Vernon was traded, Osgood became Detroit's number-one goaltender and led the team to a sweep of the Washington Capitals in the 1998 Stanley Cup Final, winning his second championship and first as starter. On April 1, 1998, he was in a goalie fight with Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy. Osgood remained Detroit's primary goaltender until the summer of 2001. In the summer of 2001, the Red Wings traded for Dominik Hašek and left Osgood unprotected in the waiver draft, where the Islanders claimed him. Osgood split time with Garth Snow for the 2001–2002 season and helped the Islanders to a playoff berth, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. He split time with Snow and Rick DiPietro for the 2002–2003 season before being traded to the St. Louis Blues on March 11, 2003, along with a third-round pick for Justin Papineau and a second-round pick. For the remainder of the 2002–2003 season and the entire 2003–2004 season, Osgood remained the primary goaltender for the Blues, posting winning records but not advancing past the playoff quarterfinals. St.