Scouting the Detroit Red Wings: Chris Osgood

September 14, 11:44 PMDetroit Red Wings ExaminerMike Mouat

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Chris Osgood

Today's profile: Chris Osgood

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 178
Birthdate: November 26, 1972 (36 years old)
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Uniform #: 30
Contract status: Signed through 2010-11
Salary Cap Figure: $1,416,667
Salary in 2009-10: $1,450,000

2008-09

Chris Osgood would like to forget the 2008-09 regular season from a statistical point of view as he recorded the worst goals against average (3.09) and save percentage (0.887) of his 15-year career. His struggles prompted the team to give him a 10-day break at the end of February to rediscover his game and his focus. And despite his poor numbers Osgood still managed to post a 26-9-8 record and moved into a tie for 10th place on the all-time wins list with former teammate Dominik Hasek. During the season he passed Tom Barrasso, Andy Moog, John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Vernon on the career wins list. And while fans and the media fretted about Osgood's play, he preached all season that he would be fine when the playoffs began, and he backed up his faith in his abilities with a brilliant post season, reducing his goals against average by more than one goal a game (2.01) and raising his save percentage to 0.926 compared to the regular season.

Osgood often mentioned the "Stanley Cup Hangover" as part of his difficulties last season, finding it hard to manufacture the intensity and the urgency experienced en route to winning the Cup in 2008, for the grind of an 82-game regular season. This season the "hangover" is no longer an issue and Osgood has vowed that there will not be a repeat of last season in an article written by Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press
The Red Wings will need a bounce back season to the form he displayed in 2007-08 when he led the league with a goals against average of 2.09, as the team does not have a proven back up to pick up the slack should he falter as he did last year. Jimmy Howard and Daniel Larsson are likely to battle for the spot through training camp with Thomas McCollum a long shot to become the backup.
Osgood has often maintained that winning is all that matters and he should have plenty of motivation in that regard this season. With 389 career wins, he can pass Grant Fuhr, and Glenn Hall and move up to 8th all-time with 18 victories.

Be sure to check out the slide show below of action photos of Osgood from last season.

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