Vezina Trophy - Chris Osgood

Lore & Background

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 the 1997 Cup win, Vernon was traded to the San Jose Sharks, making Osgood Detroit's number-one goaltender. He remained Detroit's primary goaltender until the summer of 2001.

In the summer of 2001, the Red Wings traded for Dominik Hašek, and after numerous attempts to trade Osgood, the Red Wings left him unprotected in the waiver draft, and the Islanders claimed him. He split playing time with Garth Snow for the 2001–2002 season and helped the Islanders to a playoff berth. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on March 11, 2003. On August 8, 2005, Detroit returned Osgood with a one-year, $800,000 contract.

He re-signed to a two-year, $1.8 million contract on July 1, 2006. The 2007–08 season served as a return to form for Osgood.

Reader's Guide

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. 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, on March 6, 1996 versus the Hartford Whalers.

Did You Know?

• Osgood scored a goal on March 6, 1996, versus the Hartford Whalers, becoming the second goaltender in NHL history to score a goal after Ron Hextall.
• He was in a goalie fight with Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy on April 1, 1998.