Oh Captain, our Hockey Hall of Fame Captain. Steve Yzerman is Second to None.

Before I even start writing about what Stevie Y has meant to the Detroit Red Wing Organization and her fans, a lump forms in my throat and my heart swells just a little. Its not an exaggeration to reveal that I can barely write about The Captain without tears welling up. Steve Yzerman means that much to so many of us.

There might not be a player in the history of the League that means so much to so many.

So on this day of celebration, every Red Wings fan should take a moment to stop and thank The Captain for all he has given us.

Done yet? no? Good- Stevie Y deserves every last moment of gratitude.

In 1983, the entire Metro Detroit Area found itself thrilled and captivated by the soft spoken boy with the amazing hands and lightning speed who would come to don (some say "tattooed to his chest") the red Winged Wheel for the next 23 years. An incredibly handsome 18 year old from Nepean, Ontario. The boys wanted to be him and the girls wanted to marry him. (Trust me on that one, I replaced my Scott Baio and Outsiders posters with a picture of Stevie Y.) Stay Golden Stevie Y, Stay Golden.

With stats more impressive than most of those beloved in the hockey world, Steve Yzerman did it all with a grace, class and quite strength that is second to none.

With grace, class and quiet strength he accomplished more than even the most revered and beloved sports figures throughout history.

No other player in the history of the league has accomplished as much as Stevie Y all the while keeping his nose and his skates incredibly clean. There has never been a scandal associated with The Captain or his family. No gambling, drunk driving, strip clubs,  baby mommas.  Not even a cross word to a fan. As Captain, he was second to none, leading by example with the uncanny ability to quiet a locker room containing the likes of Bob Probert, Darren McCarty and a host of other colorful characters, merely by quietly opening his mouth. No one on ice ever called him a dirty player, no one who has played the game has ever said anything negative about his talent or character.

And despite being quiet, well spoken, incredibly shy,  injured a good period of his career, surviving yearly trade rumors, and blamed by some for failing to earn a SC in the 1980's, he ended a 41 year drought, leading our Red Wings to 3 Stanley Cup Championships, staying with the franchise that drafted him for his entire career, while earning and holding countless franchise and league records.

Grace, Class and Quiet Strength. And a killer wrist shot. Unfathomable in this day and age. In any day or age.

Wings fans owe Steve Yzerman endless thanks, but we also owe him an apology too. The Captain would likely cringe at what I am about to write, perhaps be a bit embarrassed about the fuss. But when looking back on this storied career, a true fan would be remiss in failing to remind everyone that there was a time when trade rumors swirled around Steve with such intensity and frequency that everyone either came to believe them or resigned themselves to the "fact". And it didn't help that these rumors grew strongest during a time when our beloved hockey team was not so fondly referred to as the "Dead Wings", while he battled debilitating back injuries and pain.

The trade rumors came to a head as Scotty Bowman came into the Red fold. Most people thought the Bowman era would herald in the end of the Detroit Red Wing franchise player and send Steve away.


Maybe you didn't realize it at the time, but I know you know it now.

We got incredibly lucky.
 
Mr. Yzerman stayed and even the biggest critics would breathe a sigh of relief. Still anxious and begging for that elusive "Win", almost all agreed that we were glad someone so beloved, loyal and talented had not been cast away. In that experience, Wings fans learned a valuable life lesson: that character, grace, class and quiet strength were more important to this franchise than short term gain, that in life and sport, the "win"- at any cost- shouldn't be the goal.

Once more Steve Yzerman gave in ways no one ever expects an athlete to give. He made us better sports fans. His example shown so that we could realize what we should have remembered: that the "win" alone does not make the game important. 

He didn't take any of it lightly either. Steve Yzerman has always understood the responsibility of his role, and he has never faltered in giving us his very best.  And without harboring any sign of resentment or feelings of betrayal, Stevie Y made it through those rumor and times sticking to his golden example:

Grace, Class and Quiet Strength, always giving his all, without excuse.

Upon surviving into the Bowman Era, Stevie Y would surpass every expectation (except perhaps his own) and give back more than we ever asked. Astounding because we were asking for the moon and the sky and a shiny silver cup from which to drink it all in.

Stevie Y never let us down. He not only survived one of the more difficult eras of League/game evolution, but he gave back to us for every last little bit of trust and reliance we Wings fans placed with him. He came back a stronger, healthier more talented leader than he had ever been before.

He lead the Detroit Red Wings into and through 18 years of championship hockey. Played for and won three Stanley Cups, lead the team to become the most storied team in all of sports, with 18 consecutive playoff appearances.

When we doubted him, he never gave up on us. Or himself.

 Immeasurable. Grace, Class and Quiet Strength.

"Red Wing for Life."  I can still hear Mr. Ilitch saying it in June 1997. And we all cried our eyes out. I might even be crying now. I can't help it. Its difficult to express just how much The Captain means to Red Wings fans.


I can tell you this. I have had the luxury of attending quite a few away games and can attest that one cannot enter a single NHL venue in this U.S. of A. on a night when the Red Wings visit without seeing an overwhelming number of Yzerman Sweaters. I would have no problem believing that in terms of sheer numbers there are only one or two (maybe 3) players in the history that have sold more hockey sweaters.

I can also assure you of this: neither the amount of joy he has given Detroit Red Wing fans, nor gratitude we owe him can be measured.  If you have had the misfortune of reading anything else I write,  have read how much the Detroit Red Wings have meant to my family, rest assured you know that its Steve Yzerman who sits at the top of the list of individuals responsible for the joy and care we have experienced.

And so on this day of Steve Yzerman's induction into the HHOF,  I say:

" Oh Captain, my Captain, Thank you. Thank you Mr. Yzerman, for everything."

Simply put might be the only fitting way to truly express the adoration and gratitute felt.

Rebuild, Retool or Repeat? Your 2009 Detroit Red Wings.

Rebuild, Retool, Repeat? All through the offseason I have been tossing this alliterative query around in my head. Ok, ok not all summer- just since we lost the 4 Horsemen to the Apocalypse.

Since Hoss, Huds, Sammy and Conks all flew the Red Bird One Coop, I have been beseeched with concern, trepidation, worry even. Realizing that for the first time in a long while, this year’s Red Wing team will not look virtually identical to the previous season’s incarnation of greatness.

And with the loss of a great back up Goaltender and  4 goal scorers worth 80 points and a bag of used mouth guards-

What???? I am bitter about Sammy and Huds, leave me alone.

With the loss of 4 goal scorers worth 80 points and a bag of used mouth guards, plus the eternal questions in Net, well this 2009-2010 Season is likely to give any good Red Wings fan nervous fits and the occasional facial tick whenever the phrases “Geno Malkin” and “bloody balls” are uttered.

I look stupid with facial ticks, so I am doing the only thing I can:  Analysis of where our Wings stand after last year’s heartbreaking season's end. Time to dive in and ask the hard questions.

What will these Red Wings accomplish this 2009-2010 season: rebuilding, retooling or repeating?

Are the Wings in a Rebuilding Year? 

There are plenty of “experts out there (cough, cou-THN-gh, cough) who think the Wings are on the decline and in the process of rebuilding. With rookies Helm, Howard, McCollum, Ericsson, Leino, Abdelkader (just learn to spell it now, people. Its much easier if you don’t resist.) and Meech all selling their lake effect property in GR and trading in their Lions wings for Red ones, the Wings have more rookie ass warming the bench and top 3 lines than any Wings team in recent history.

Yes, I am using the term “rookie” loosely. Let it go.

In fact for the first time in about 5 years, the naysayers are out of luck using their standard fare of Red Wing jokes and criticisms. Wings have 13 Twenty somethings in the lineup and 9 Thirty somethings.

And not one player over the age of 39. No one carrying an AARP Card or riding a Rascal to the Rink.  Anymore.

 Only Lidstrom is over 36 years of age. Save the “Cane” jokes for Chicago and let Chelios go. We did.

(AAWWWWW, low blow Juice- not cool.  Why you gotta hate on Cheli? I couldn’t help it, the joke wrote itself.  I have nothing but love for Cheli, and mad props for his amazing contributions to the Red Wing Organization, the sport and American hockey. You can tell I mean this sincerely because I did not add “and Chili” to the end of that last sentence.)

Of our 13 youngins cracking Babcock’s line up, 7 of them are seeing their first season starting in the NHL. Anyone would look at those numbers and think “holy crap- Rebuild in Detroit, ask for an autograph.”

But I disagree. Sure we have tons of rookies breaking the line up this year, but these are no average rookies. These are “kids” who can compete and win at the highest levels in the league. Anyone of these players could have cracked the line up of at least half the league last year or the year before. Our rookies do not signify “rebuild”.

Each of these rooks has seen some incredible NHL ice time, most impressively in last year’s playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals. I want to be the first to point out that although we did not repeat as Champs last year, the fact that the Wings pulled 4 or more AHL players up after they completed their season and relied heavily on them in the SCF, getting all the way to Game 7, speaks volumes about the talent of these players.

Guys like Helm, Ericsson, Abs, Leino were integral in stepping the fawk up and keeping us in it to try to win it. Playing like seasoned pros when they had barely ever seen the inside of the Joe before. These boys played with the grace, heart, class and talent that Red Wing fans like you and I expect, beyond their years or experience.

Its going to be hella exciting to watch them in their first NHL year, and they are all gonna be good, maybe even great.

"Bertuzzi" Does Not (Necessarily) Mean “Tool”.

Repeat after me:  “In Holland we Trust, Todd Bertuzzi won’t let us down, In Holland We Trust.” Then go sacrifice a Chris Pronger bobble head to the Hockey Gods, and thank your lucky stars Steve Ott wasn’t on the UFA list.

But what about Bertuzzi, Juice? 

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question, I could have bought Kris Draper’s Contract.

 In 1992.

Look. Bertuzzi is a thug. I’m sorry. Its gonna be very difficult for me to warm up to the idea of needing a hired gun on an elite Red Wings team. But you know what’s more difficult? Watching guys like Pronger, Ryan, Ott, Carcillo, Ivanais, Cammalleri, Ruutu and Burrows pummel the Datsyuks and Zetterbergs.

Or watching a second rounder punk in the second city spear Nic Lidstrom in the tomatoes and send him into emergency surgery.

I can’t tell you how many times last year I wished for a Darren McCarty presence on the ice. For no reason other than deterrence. Look. As long as the league refuses to address fighting, then its suicide to not have an enforcer (or two) in your line up and I support the decision to go looking for a little muscle/psychosis.  For deterrence. (I mean it.)

Unable to will D-Mac onto the roster with the force and power of my mind, I would have preferred to steal Scott Hartnell, but he has a damn NTC. What to do what to do? Ken-otye knew what to do. Even if we fans aren’t visionary enough to appreciate it yet.

Let’s face it with Bertuzzi out there you will get a skater with speed and decent hands who can and will also beat the puck out of anyone who messed with his team mates. Or anyone who doesn’t. Anyone really.

By the way did you know that 7 Anaheim Thucks cracked the top 50 players earning the most penalty minutes last year? Not even Philly- who had 4, The Rangers (4) Vancouver (3) or Ottawa (2) had that many top 50 penalty minute earners….Dirty Thucks.

            Bertuzzi is Yiddish for “Retool”

Picking up Todd Bertuzzi is a sign to me that the Wings looked at the number of opponent caused injuries and the woefully beat up state of our Red Wings at the end of 2009 and had no choice but to fill the enforcer role. Then they drained more blood from Lids boy parts and dreamt of the days when Darren McCarty was king.

Then they got the rug pulled out from under them and lost 80 goals.

 

Where the HEDHS are we gonna get 80 goals?? 

Williams, Bertuzzi, Eaves, oh my. This isn’t your father’s HuddedHossSam. But only a fool would look at Wiley Ken-otye’s offseason acquisitions and think he hired these guys as replacements. He didn’t even hire them as “The Replacements.”

Hmm- I wonder if Keanu Reeves was available…."That man is facking an animal!”

At :10 seconds and again at :31… But I digress.

Look. Just short of  kidnapping Ovie, dressing him up in a Canadian Mountie uniform and brain washing him into believing his name is Travis Erhardt from Saskatchewan, and that he plays for Detroit, the Wings weren’t going to make up 80 lost goals by scrambling for UFAs.

But why are you sweating it??? Wings will get 30-40 of those goals back if Helmer and Leino have good years.  If Bertuzzi lives up to Ken-otye’s expectations there are another 20-25 goals. AND if Jason Williams actually manages to play to his potential (ie: avoid those pesky season ending splinters from riding the bench), there is another 25.  There are your 65-75 goals.

Its up to the Defense to do the rest- Both Babs and Ken-otye have said as much. “Our defense has got to be better.”  Translation?  Better goal tending and stronger D.

It only makes sense. Anyone worth their Yzerman sweater see that last year’s scoring circus was really an anomaly. Seeing games where Wings had 5-6, 7 goals? Bizarre to me. Traditionally, the Detroit Red Wings have always been more balanced team- hell the Wings invented (for NHL purposes) and perfected (Pavel Datsyuk) the defensive forward and the Wings were instrumental in successfully overcoming a pure trap defense style in the league. Some would say the first.

Wings will be back focusing on defense this year, which raises the only real unknown in my mind:

Can Jimmy Howard Adequately Replace Ty Conklin? 

This is the big question. The Superunknown if you will. Detroit Goaltending- always under fire. Sigh. Will Ozzie have his best regular season ever? Is Howard ready for the Show? If not, is it wrong to hope that Chicago will make a huge error and let the injured Huet go, or can we pick up a guy like Boucher, Bryz, Ersberg or Hiller from a West Coast team for less than $1MM?

Truth is the only unknown with any weight in support of a “rebuilding year” argument is the goaltending. But it doesn’t have the strongest legs. Rookie goalies can do great thing- this isn’t your father’s league. Look at Mason, Quick, Ersberg, Rinne and Varlamov. All had great showings last year. And Jimmy believes he is ready. Babs believes he is ready. Case closed, shut your five hole, er pie hole.

Bottom line: Wings will be fine.  We will be more than fine. This is a retooled Red Wing team, with a handful of super talented young guns who have been chomping at the bit to get to the show, and a solid core of vets who are still the fastest, sharpest, most talented mothra fokkers from here to Gardenia.  Retool? Yea a bit, but only so that its even more likely than not that we will:

            Repeat after me: The Detroit Red Wings are Still the Best. 

Yes, I think with this team, retooled and revamped, that the Wings can and will make it back to the Finals. Let’s look at the rest of the confy. Sharks remain basically intact, with a couple of surprising losses and a couple great acquisitions that likely will not be enough.

Let’s face it, if San Jose had half the heart their fans show, they’d have been Stanley Cup champs long before now.

 

Some argue that the pain of repeatedly letting their fans and themselves down will give them an extra edge. But I have been a heartbroken fan at the end of a season cut too short.  If the Sharks didn’t get momentum off that sort of heartbreak in 2008, where will it come from after getting drop kicked in the first round? Claude Lemieux?

Speaking of Anaheim. Did someone step on a Duck? Losing a Neid-a-weiner and Pronger leaves a big hole in their thug-fence. Anaheim appears to have spent the off season trying to gain some finesse, but that is a classic mistake. No way Anaheim can compete with the Wings or Sharks in finesse, puck possession or pure talent. Hell, they can’t compete in those areas with Chicago, even if Hossa’s shoulder never heals. Anaheim has become slightly less concerning- they will be lucky to be ranked 4^th or 5^th in the Confy, depending on how Vancouver and Dallas handle.

Chicago? I got a Buck twenty says they don’t make it past the second (city) round. The Blackhawks will make another valiant effort. Maybe they’ll even shoot for the Presidents Cup. They seem to be following in the traditional path of mistakes so many top tier teams make trying to get to the cup. Yawn. Who cares.

The biggest threat to the Wings’ goal of repeating a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals remains with the Sharks, followed by a lesser concern of having to battle through the Thucks. Luckily the Wings just got a bit tougher, and the Thucks just got a little less tough. Sharks remain essentially the same, and if the Wings and Sharks ever meet up in a Western Confy Final- it will be some of the most exciting hockey you will ever see.  Luckily my team has more heart and wants it more. More importantly, Wings know how to win.

Bottom Line: Wings can repeat. And what is more- they want to. 80 games until Playoffs....Bring on Sweden Baby- its time to shoot some puck!

Burning Questions for the 2009-2010 NHL Season

HEDHS people, Hockey is back!

In honor of this week's pre-season kickoff, I put to you the questions burning a hole in my blocker this season. In other words here are my 30 for 30, (plus two for the KHL and Swedish Elite). Got your own? chime in!

1. Sean Avery’s first gaff: Will it be goalie or girlfriend related?
2. Can the Stars survive Crawford, or have they become the new Thucks?
3. In which game will Ray Emery shank someone?
4. Pavel Datsyuk. No question, just can’t wait to see him on ice again.
5. Will the Bruins wake from their hibernation, set the picinic basket aside and pull together a real Finals run?
6. How magnificent will it be to see Sid have to deal with Pronger all season?
7. Is Jimmy Howard ready for the show?
8. Did the Heatley-Cheechoo-Milan trade benefitted Ottawa more than the Sharks?
9. Did the LA Kings gain any experience and wisdom last season?
10. Will they allow Niedermeyer and Selanne to use their “Rascals” on the ice this year?
11. How quickly after a Detroit fan throws $1.20 on the ice at the United Center will Hossa pick it up?
12. Will Fox or ESPN pick up Phoenix’ “Coyote Ugly: the reality series” for the fall season? No coach, no wins, no money: All the drama, half the fans.
13. Will Joe Sakic continue to shovel his own drive now that he has all that free time?
14. Will Montreal make bad fashion statements again, in the name of tradition? Damn Frenchies.
15. How will Gary Bettman apologize to Nic Lidstrom for the unwarranted All-Star punishment upon learning that Nico had a torn ligament in his elbow at the time? Flowers? Edible arrangements? A Teddy bear with a sling on its arm?
16. When will Glen Sather make his first colossal mistake of the season?
17. Will Steve Mason live up to his rookie year?
18. Is Tukka Rask the coolest name in Hockey right now? Or is it the name most likely to earn the following chant/signage: “Tuuka Rask? Looks more like someone Tukka Dump!”
19. How fantastic will Darren Helm be at the, uh.... ahem, ahh., Well you can guess.
20. Will ANYONE care what happens with the Maple Leafs?
21. Who will be the worst team in Hockey this year: Leafs, Coyotes, Thrashers, Islanders, Avs, Lightning?
22. Will anyone ever buy me a Scotty Hartnell “Fro” wig?
23. How soon in the marketing season will it be before the entire NHL Fanbase starts bringing effigies of Crosby to games?
24. Will Ovie break Gretz’ record for fastest 50, and score more than 50 goals in less than 39 games?
25. What will the Wild do this year to make a faster offense work with the Trap, and will Backstop still reign as the most underrated goalie in the league?
26. Will Jiri Hudler forgo sleeping on his requisition “cot” in the Red Army Barracks, and instead sleep on piles of money?
27. How many assault charges will be levied against Patrick Roy’s kid this year? (I’m guessing 30.)
28. Can Manny Legace help Atlanta become less mediocre?
29. Will Luongo prove he’s a playoff goalie or falter?
30. Will Forsberg play for the Swedes in the Olympics, prompting obsessive, non-stop and rampant speculation that he’s coming back to the NHL?
31. Will the Canes once more ward off talks that their season is staaled by surprising us all again with a stellar playoff run?
32. Do we have to listen to another half season of “Will Sundin play or won’t he” speculation, and why does anyone care???

CONFESSION OF AN EXHAUSTED HOCKEY FAN

Author’s note: If you haven’t followed my past blogs, some of this will not make sense. More than anything, this blog is a cathartic exercise for me. I apologize and I thank you for your indulgence.

Depravity and Deprivation in LA

We didn’t realize it, but at the time of the Detroit Red Wings 2008 Stanley Cup playoff run, my brother and I were feeling an unprecedented level of quiet depravation. Years in LA, the lockout, life had caused us to lose touch with one of the more significant vehicles of entertainment and bonding in our lives: our love and devotion to the Detroit Red Wings. We were oblivious to the fact that we were searching for ways to spend more time to spend together,to re-experience a piece of our past that had meant so much in our family.

Quiet depravation.

Double entendred and purposefully misspelled if you will: A sense of loss and a level of depravity, you can only get immersing yourself as a true Los Angelenos.

And immerse we had. Not much of my mid-western Detroit “self” existed anymore in this spring of 2008. Four years after leaving Day-twa, I fit well into my Los Angeles home. The only thing I missed from my Midwestern roots-besides loved ones- were the Wings.

Maybe its in the blood, maybe part of the lifeblood that strengthens our relationship. Either way, by spring 2008 we were really jonesing for Hockey.

An unrealized sense of loss, combined with the nostalgic need to reconnect with each other through something that had been a strong glue, solidifying and helping form the relationship we had long ago nurtured all came to a head for my Brother and I.

It was sort of a perfect storm.

We started out with random texts in February and March, “McCarty’s back, did you see?” “HEDHS YES” “Love me some Macs.”

Then getting together for a NBC Saturday Feature: Wings versus Avs. A classic rivalry. And we sat there eating Baja Fresh, watching our Red Wings smother the Avs. We were blown away and unbelieving. Were these Wings this good, or those Avs this bad? (As it turns out: Both.) We were hooked back into something we had not closely followed in years.

It couldn’t be helped, really. The 2008 Wings were brilliant and exciting to watch. This looked like the teams of 1997, 1998 and 2002- only more. Already in mid March they were in playoff form: tight, methodical and sofaking talented. Mesmerizingly so.

Pasha and Hank “Wonder-twins activate: form of the perfect wing duo”. Nico, the brilliant silent leader. Homer and Ozzie. The thrill was back.

The 2008 Red Wings overwhelmed and amazed us. “Might be the best Red Wing team ever.” Hushed tones.

We relished every last playoff game and the time we finally found to spend together. Our love for the team and the game was re-ignited. My brother bought some new gear, started picking up extra games at his Burbank rink and joined another league.

For me it took a different turn. Unable to whiff even a wristshot, I could not expend my hockey en-fueled energy with sport. I began writing about that incredible Red Wing playoff run. And then, thanks to the wonderful people who read what I write and their amazing encouragement, I kept writing. A community of amateur Hockey writers- true fans of the game, grew from our interactions and fueled our involvement and interest in the game. We gave each other great energy and friendship.

I immersed myself in this hockey world. I wrote about free agency trades and the draft. I spent the summer covering hockey news as I learned about the league. For the first time in my life, I closely followed the whole league and the sport, not just one team. I made wonderful friends who were hockey fans, I joined a fantasy league. I received praise for my insight and opinions from one of the best in the business. I affirmed the knowledge that my appreciation for the game is firmly rooted in loving the game the Red Wings organization not only perfects and embodies, but which is so successful that it has fundamentally impacted the evolution of the league.

I learned, shared what I learned, and fell in love with the game. I made amazing friends.

A Year of Hockey

I wrote 3-4 times a week. Some weeks I wrote every day. I read copiously, ran a weekly radio show, did surprisingly well in my fantasy league and never missed a Red Wing game. I traveled all over the country to watch the Wings play. To San Jose, Chicago. Almost made it to Montreal. I attended Kings games, watched big games not involving the Wings. I attended WHL playoffs with other fans who lived half across the country (Go Ontario Reign!). I accepted an offer to write for the Examiner about the LA Kings. I organized and spearheaded a charity project involving young hockey writers and the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program, for which I spent hundreds of hours organizing, meeting, and editing a book that now sits, nearly finished, never receiving final approval from the NHL for publication.

My life was completely immersed in all things hockey for nearly 10 months.

By the winter of 2009, this obsession was exhausting me. I was burning out. I no longer wanted to carry the radio show, no longer wanted to lose my Sundays and part of my Saturdays preparing for the show, watching 4-5 games on a Saturday or Thursday. I was disappointed that the NHL had bailed out of the book project. But I didn’t take a break, or give up even when I wanted to. Each week or day even would draw me back with a little spark, some interesting news, or a friend’s perspective. I was tired of Hockey, but too foolish to step back.

In February 2009, personal tragedy hit my family. I quickly turned my attention away from the Wings and my little hockey world.

Just at that time, something unexpected and amazing happened in my personal life. Something that by all counts is bigger and more incredible than any fantasy anyone here in Hollywood could ever dream up. Bigger than the Cup, Bigger than Hockey. (Ironic only because it was Hockey that brought this amazing thing back into my life....) And so I gladly drifted away from writing, the radio show and the hockey world. Sort of.

As the 2009 Playoffs approached, my Wings were chugging along, the Red machine, doing everything perfectly. My Brother and I once more geared up, focused and ready for an epic playoff run. Expecting and sure of eventual success.

Expectations Only Mean You Think You Know

What’s Coming Next, And You Don’t.

Throughout the entire 2008-2009 season I had unwavering belief and certain knowledge that my Red Wings would make it back to the Cup and would get it again. I never had a doubt. In fact, given my new found intimate knowledge of the rest of the league, I felt beyond confident.

My certainty wavered at only two points. First, after the Sharks failed to snuff the Ducks in Round 1, and we headed into Game 7 against Anaheim. As much as I loathe the Anaheim team and their hideous untalented thug style of play, I knew this would be the true test. In my opinion, it was the real 2009 Stanley Cup final series. After Game 3 I had no idea who would ultimately prevail. It was the second most painful playoff series I ever lived through.

This year of Hockey had brought me back to that level of emotional investment I felt in the mid 1990s. I was surprised to realize I had truly forgotten the pain we felt in 1995, 1996 when arch nemeses crushed our Stanley Cup dreams. That Ducks series brought it all back.

Driving home from Anaheim after Game 6 seeing Hossa robbed, I was proud of my team, but worried about them and the beating they were taking, exhausted and scared. So much emotional investment in this year had culminated in the Confy Finals. So much time and energy. But I was in, committing to the cause as any good fan is.

And my Wings didn’t let me down.

We moved on, and eventually snuffed the one team I knew it would cost to beat.

I realized I wasn’t writing much anymore and I cancelled radio show after radio show when my usual co-hosts began to drop out of the broadcast- not surprisingly in conjunction with their teams falling in the Playoffs.

I tried to write, but found myself observing the same things about my Red Wings I had the year before, and using the same adjectives, descriptors and observations. Mere paragraphs in, I trashed blog after blog, feeling like I ought to just post a one liner: “See my analysis of Game 3 – Dallas Series, 2008.” I felt tapped.

If I was tapped, I marveled at how the Wings were able to maintain the physical and emotional strength that it takes survive 3 of 4 consecutive seasons that last from September to June. It made me love my team that much more.

On to the Stanley Cup Finals. Pens again. Most of my hockey loving friends had quietly dropped off my facebook grid. No one even bothered to check in with me. Some had switched their allegiance to the Pens. The same people who had bashed Sid the Kid all year I found were quietly supporting his Cup run. To me it looked less like support for the Pens and more like dislike for the Wings. I took it personally. I wanted to feel hurt, but initially, had little energy to devote to the matter. Instead, I stopped looking for interaction with non-Wings fans and stuck with my own kind.

Re-committed all my energy into supporting my team. (Insert “ die-hard athletic supporter” joke here.)

Plus, after beating the Ducks, I was even more confident in my team’s talent and strength. I even believed that beating the Ducks was the sacrifice the Hockey Gods need to bestow upon you the Cup.

I believed there was no team the Wings could not take down. To this day I still believe as a fan, and analyze as an amateur sports writer that the 2009 Pens were less formidable a team than the 2009 Ducks.

But you can’t make it through Anaheim unscathed. You can’t survive it without being beaten senseless, emotionally and physically drained. There is no modern team more brutal, evil and dirty than the 2007-2009 Anaheim Ducks.

Now with Pronger on the Flyers, I expect Sid and his sheep to suffer what Pasha, Homer, Hank and Nico, along with the entire San Jose Sharks team have suffered. Let’s see a second run materialize with the Mighty Bruins still hungry and the Flyers beefing up to take back the “Thuggiest Team in The League” Title, (but with more young talent than the Ducks have had in a long time). Trust me, if the Flyers could just land a playoff goaltender, they would see a cup. Can you imagine a guy like Nic Backstrom or Henrik Lundquist on the Flyers? 22, there is your dream team. Thank goodness they have no talent to ever pick a decent goalie in Philly. But I digress. Where were we? AH yes, on to the Stanley Cup Finals 2009.

Soul Searching and Sour Grapes

And so it went. My Wings had flashes of brilliance in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, but they were held together by stick tape and mouthguards. They often played on nothing but adrenaline and sheer will. Their minds and hearts pressed valiantly forward, but the Ducks run had cost us.

By the end of Game 5 of the SCF, I was tired. I didn’t know how the Players were able to push on. I honestly didn’t know. But they did.

And still my Wings didn’t let me down. Sure, sure. I sat on the floor sobbing my eyes out as Game 7 wound down to its inevitable heartbreaking conclusion.

I cried for the loss. I cried for their disappointment, wanting this team that had given me so much this year to win the prize I felt they had earned.

I cried because of the year of Hockey, of a life immersed ended feeling my team had been robbed. I cried in disappointment, because I never once during that Finals series doubted these Wings would pull it out. I cried because my heart ached for the effort these amazing Red Wings gave and for the heartbreak they surely must have felt.

I never once stopped being proud of this team, or loving them. But I was exhausted. I could not take one more moment of Hockey. We turned the television off as the buzzer sounded, I could not even bear the idea of watching Sid hoist the Cup at the Joe. It still makes me sick to my stomach. I was done.

And then I felt guilty relief. It was over.

I didn’t watch, read, write about or listen to a thing involving Hockey for months. I stopped talking to most hockey friends. I quit the radio show.

I had seen it coming before the Finals series, but I did not know if losing the Cup had been the final straw. I did not want to be a sore loser, so I forced myself to attempt to write, promised one more radio show. Sent notes of congratulations to hockey friends who were Pittsburgh fans. Wrote one last heartfelt blog, but otherwise my heart wasn’t in any of it. Never did the final radio show.

I felt guilty. I felt like a fair-weather fan. (Of the GAME, not my Wings- JUST TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR).

I let myself feel the hurt and took offense that “friends” completely abandoned me at the beginning of the Wings Finals run, and felt affronted that they had no words of support after my team lost (especially hurtful since I had supported them and their team’s runs and sent notes of condolence when they were feeling this same disappointment). I was resentful that I had given so much of my time, life, year to support and be there for people who ultimately not only abandoned me, but revealed their true feelings about my team.

I felt like the poster child for sour grapes and I was embarrassed. I did not expect my character would ever allow such meltdown. I felt guilty, but I could not over come it. I kept hoping it wasn’t so much sour grapes, as burn out.

But honestly, I didn’t know.

And so in that first week of June 2009 I left Hockey.

When UFA Day came along and I could not bring myself to check TSN, I wondered if I was done with Hockey. (Again, Not done with my Wings, just to be clear.)

June and July passed, without feeling the spark or need to tune in.

Then came August 16th. The HHOF. On a lovely weekend trip to Toronto, I dragged my wonderful, patient, incredibly understanding (non-hockey fan) boyfriend to the HHOF.

Yet even as I walked through the HHOF, something was wrong. I felt excitement, but nothing deep in my heart. Nothing like the feeling of standing there on the edge of Wrigley Field watching the Wings warm up. Nothing like that overwhelming sense of gratefulness and awe sitting in the nosebleeds at the Honda Center during Game 6 of the Conference Finals. Nothing like road tripping across the state to watch a game with some of the greatest hockey fans I have ever met.

Hockey felt like a responsibility, an obligation. Nothing at the HHOF stirred in my heart, even when I knew it should. Bobby Orr’s bronzed skates? Nothing. A Belfour mask? Meh.

The only emotions I felt were incredible love and gratitude toward my boyfriend who was wonderful enough to waste his time with me, enthusiastically I might add, wandering through a place I should have been joyfully exploring.

I stood looking at the California Seals sweater when he uttered, “Oh geez. Let me get a picture before you start to cry.”

I turned to look at him, curious as to why I would cry and saw that he had located the Igor Larionov induction display. It would only stand for another 2 months before the 2009 Inductees replaced him. It was something that I was incredibly lucky to be able to see.

Anyone who knows me or had read my stuff knows that the mere unexpected sight of Igor Larionov on ice accepting an award at the Staples Center is enough to reduce me to a sniveling crybaby.

But the tears never came. I still can’t tell you what I felt. Well that is not true. I felt ashamed that the emotions were absent. Tom snapped pictures and I felt rotten.

If a trip to the HHOF with an understanding boyfriend who doesn’t even follow Hockey and seeing Igor’s original CCCP sweater couldn’t pull me back in, what would?

I wasn’t sure. August ended with a recommendation from Cassie to apply for the SB Nation LA Kings writer position that was open. I never pursued it. I didn’t have the energy to commit.

I didn’t know what would happen this year. I knew I wasn’t going to do the radio show again, I hadn’t written about hockey in months. I had heard they revamped the NHL Connect sight and didn’t care. I wasn’t following the trades. Hudler’s defection to Russia barely upset me.

Birthday Hockey

I perused the Wings Schedule, looking to pick up Wings-Kings October tickets for my Brother and I- his annual birthday gift, and when I realized the Wings have no “Cali Hat Trip” until January, I felt something.

Akshully, I was totally distraught.

For 4 years my brother and I had an October Birthday Date. Dress in Red Wing gear, and head to the Staples Center for his birthday. And they had taken that away from us. I was so upset. No Wings in October? I was almost reduced to tears.

But it triggered something in me. As I planned a trip to Detroit for Thanksgiving, I saw that the Wings would be home and playing Calgary. A game at the Joe. I hadn’t been in the Joe since 2002, 2003 maybe? HEDHS, I could not recall. I called in a long standing favor and got two tickets. Not quite Section 109, Row 18, but who am I to complain? Seats in Section 110 will do just fine.

Slowly, the excitement is growing again. Anticipation for a new season. I found myself watching FSN when they ran a Classic about a week ago: Game 4 of the 2000-2001 Wings-Kings Series.

Excitement over the prospect of this year’s Wings. Realizing that we have some unknowns, and questions, and excited for it. Anticipation over what a year without such immense pressure will do for us. Hoping to see the boys play with joy in their eyes, and hoping they take a little the pressure off themselves. Knowing that we can make it back to the Cup again.

Growing excitement in building a championship fantasy team, even taking on a commish role this year, and inviting some of the smartest hockey fans I have known to be in the league. (Cripe this league is gonna be so tough. I have no chance of winning it, but I am stoked to be battling it out with each and every one of you!)

A Sunday morning watching Dallas beat my Wings on NHL Network in Game 5 of the 2008 Confy finals (especially poignant since I have a million other things to do). Watching Pasha manhandle an entire Stars team, catching his own rebounds 3,4,5 times…Sigh.

Beginning to wonder how Scott Hartnell and Jeff Carter will do with Chris Pronger on the team. Wondering if the Sleeping Bear of Boston is gonna come out and correct their mistakes and make a real Stanley Cup Run. Wondering if the Sharks haven’t traded away two core –key players, and are prematurely dismantling their very talented team.

A need to write about my hockey experience again.

Slowly, it’s all coming back. Not just my love for the Wings, but for the game. Creeping in ever so cautiously again.

I woke this morning with an answer to the question that had burdened me all summer. The worst questions a sports fan will ever have to ask of themselves:

Had I merely burnt myself out last year, or have I proven to be a shallow “fan”, a homer stuffed with a mouthful of sour grapes? Was my character so lacking?

I turned on the television, choosing The NHL Network’s “Ten Best Rookies of the 1990s” over E! Entertainment’s “True Hollywood Story: Christina Aguilera” and A&E’s “Sell this House”, and as I sat down to write this, I knew the answer.

The Detroit Red Wings Deserve a 2009 Celebration Parade in the City of Detroit

My lavender ottoman made of shantung silk is stained with tears. Big tear drop splooches, long dried, will be a permanent reminder of the heartbreak suffered this Friday June 12, 2009. Wadded up Kleenex are still strewn about its base because I was too upset to worry about cleaning up after myself last night. A warm beer, barely touched, sits on a coffee table though my brother and the last of the house guests are long gone.


I felt numb and empty and horrified. At my team and at myself. I can’t talk about how horribly the Wings played or how mad I am that Hossa never scored, or how upset I am that Chris Osgood was denied the Conn Smythe. I can't explain what I saw or why it felt like the Detroit Red Wings failed to show up last night. (I refuse to believe they didn't give their all, hence "felt like"- clearly I don't know what really happened...)


I have never seen a Red Wings team implode like this. And certainly not THIS one. I still can’t even imagine it even though I watched it happen. It was a bad dream. All I could do last night was wonder how badly the Wings themselves must be feeling.

Another thing I can’t fathom.

Permanent tear stains on a silk ottoman.

And yet when I woke this morning, I hadn’t died. I didn’t feel like staying in bed and mourning. I didn't even feel that bad. It felt like a normal day, despite waking to a thick grey marine layer.


June Gloom here in Coastal Southern California. Depressingly appropriate, but not a red door painted black.


I woke to realize that my tears from last night weren’t as much about my disappointment, as for my Wings. For the boys in red and white who have given Red Wings fans one helluva year.


Saddened that they have to wake up today and live with that loss. After the incredible fight through the Thucks and injury and against a league that often failed to provide them a fair fight.


So strong was my belief that these Wings would prevail over any obstacle thrown at them, a skate stomping pen-duck trying to injure Chris Osgood, or the end of a stick jammed up under the Mule's helmet at his temple, rumors that Nic Lids was not 100%, waived suspensions for undeserving MVPs- none of it dissuaded me from the fact that all throughout these playoffs, I was sure the Wings could overcome. And when they didn't, it hit me like a Lidstrom slapper to the gut. I couldn't imagine how horrible it must feel for our boys in red.


And that is what actually makes me tear up again. Because they don’t deserve it. They deserve to be celebrated.


Celebrated for what these Red Wings have given us this year,

The Wings deserve a parade right down Woodward to Hart Plaza with a million fans thanking them and cheering their year.

This year, 2009.

They deserve thanks and praise for this amazing year. And you fans in Detroit deserve to celebrate this amazing year too. And I am 100% certain the Wings want to thank you for your support.

Time to celebrate a year of being the Stanley Cup Champions, The year of our Winter Classic. Of beating the Sharks 6-0 at home, and always handing Chicago their young, punk asses. A year of showing us time and time again grace, class, dignity and incredible talent, heart and drive.


A year of glorious passes and wonderful saves, Datsyukian dekes and Nic Lids slapshots from the point. A year of cheers and even some joyous tears.


So on this day after a crushing Stanley Cup loss, I thank you my Detroit Red Wings.


For all the games and wins I personally attended during your California tour of duty.


For the puck Andreas Lilja tossed to me.


For the Winter Classic and Brian Rafalski’s cap.


For Pasha’s utter brilliance with the puck and Ozzie’s amazing Conn Smythe earning playoff run.


For Hank’s heart and Danny’s drive.


For Jiri Hudler’s great grin and wicked one timer.


For ice cream eaten out of the Cup by our kids.


For parties at Cheli's with the Cup.


For Darren Helm’s break out post- season.


For a year of helping me understand Mikael Samuelsson’s quirky but undeniable talent.


For Homer’s butt.


For the heart and leadership we got to see Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby exhibit in these playoffs.


For growing your AHL players into Stanley Cup contenders like Helm, Abs, John-E and Ville.


For showing Chicago just who sucks.


For keeping D-mac and Cheli in the fold.


For Nic Lids, who fights through it all without a word, or complaint, just like his predecessor.


For Black Cowboy Hats on Coaches at Wrigley.


For Bab’s sense of humor and the looks he gives reporters.


For bringing the Cup to us throughout 2008.


For 18 years of being the most dominant team in the sport.


For Ken Holland’s brilliance with the Cap.


For beating the Ducks over and over again with your gorgeous speedy, skilled puck possession globetrotter-esque style of play. . .


For a management that values family and wisdom and experience and loyalty, setting the standard to which all teams in this league must ascribe to in order to be successful.


For caring about all your fans, the City of Detroit, her suburbs and their citizens, and battling to the end when you had nothing left in the tank, just for all of us.


For taking your fans all the way through the post season to the very end in such a thrilling, beautiful way, playing with class and courage, through injury and insult and thuggery and with more heart than we had a right to ask for.



Thank You my Detroit Red Wings. You may not get a parade this year, but you still deserve one.

Once more you have given us the journey, the ride and you made me proud.

Proud to be a Detroit Red Wing Fan.

And this ride, journey has been amazing, just like all of you.


Thank you. Now please enjoy your summer, we have a Cup to get back next year....

Chris Osgood: One Of The NHL’s All Time Best Goalies, Ever.

As surely as the Detroit Red Wings will make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year, Chris Osgood will be abused in the media as a controversial figure. It is amazing to me that time and time again the hockey world remains divided on all matters Oz.

I can’t tell you the number of times in these playoffs I have yelled “Pierre McNugget: suck it!!” every time Ozzie makes an amazing save on Geno or Sid or Getslaffedat or ANYONE! I just get so sick of experts and the media (like Pierre who ought to know better) perpetuating the myth that Ozzie is a weak link.

First, find me a weak link on this Red Wings team, I dare ya. Second, it ain’t Ozzie. Ozzie has done nothing but play Conn Smythe worthy hockey throughout last two Playoff seasons (I argued he was as deserving of the Conny as Hank last year). So this is my 2009 Pitch: Chris Osgood for Conn Smythe.

It’s my natural inclination to start with statistics, so let's just take a peak. Chris Osgood sits comfortably within the top ten of the following All Time NHL Goalie statistics:

Wins

Playoff Wins

Playoff Shutouts

Top Ten ALL TIME. Chris Osgood.

Suck it McNugget! And while we are at it, ahem. Mr. Crawshaw, aka LW3H, (statistician extraordinaire and sensational blogger from across the pond, author of the “Springing Malik” hockey Blog here at http://springingmalik.blogspot.com/),

Mr LW3H,

THIS is a gauntlet, it has been thrown….

THE CASE FOR CHRIS OSGOOD

Statement of Full Disclosure: I am personally biased toward Ozzie, I have not only followed his NHL career from the beginning, but I strongly feel he is unjustly maligned and should be revered as a world class, NHL goalie. I firmly believe he is a future Hall of Famer. Most importantly, Chris Osgood is a first class A-1 Steak Saucy human being, a kind person who embodies all of the personality traits and human characteristics we all want our star athletes to possess. He is a great guy, humble, hard working, funny. All around, Ozzie is the sort of athlete and person you hope your kids will grow up to be. Plus, he loves the City of Detroit, her suburbs and Detroit Red Wing fans as much as we love the Wings. Did you know that Ozzie never sold his home in Metro Detroit the entire time he was getting tossed around the league? He knew he was coming back, he worked his azz off to get back. It was all he wanted.

But let’s start with the muck shall we, and end with the feel good???

UNSUBSTANTIATED CRITICISMS

The Press and hockey fans throw a couple of repetitious, but unsubstantiated, criticisms at Ozzie. Let’s break them down and beat them up.

Unsubstantiated Criticism 1: That Ozzie faces less pressure in goal because he takes less SOGs

I have a goalie in my family who argues this is a baseless criticism tossed about by people who have never played the game. Its much more mentally difficult for a goalie to stay focused in a game, to sporadically come up big when needed the way, Ozzie does, than to be constantly peppered with shots and have the play consolidated at one’s own end. Less shots means you still must have the reflexes a cat and the timing of a swiss watch, but it also means you also must have the discipline and control of an android. Great stats like Ozzies on less SOGs are, if anything, an indicator of extreme discipline and incredible talent.

PLUS- less shots often translates to better shots, more desperate shots. Goaltending has to be much more impressive when a desperate team is bearing down on you. And the Wings are famous for giving up a lead in the third, coasting on a 2 goal cushion, only to sleep through an easy one and then find themselves forced to play the last minute 6 on 5. Much harder to fight desperate shots and garbage scrums in your crease, which is a lot of the action Ozzie see.

Unsubstantiated Criticism 2: That Ozzie is only as good as the Wings unstoppable defense.

I love this one. There are a couple of hall of fame goalies (and several other not so greats) who didn’t win big under cloak of this Red Wing Defense.

No disrespect to the Dominator, but he’s the most recent example. Look, its fallacy to suggest that a goalie is not an integral part of a team’s defense. And in the playoffs its lazy and slightly misinformed to suggest the goalie isn’t the most important player. Of the 43 Conn Smythe Awards given, 14 of them have gone to goalies. Only Centers have as many Conn Smythes. And if justice serves this year, the number of goalies will increase to 15, meaning goalies have earned the Conn Smythe more often than any other position in the history of the award.

Further, everyone knows that a team’s confidence in its goalie affects play and each players own confidence level. This Wings team makes it clear that they feel extremely confident with Ozzie in goal and that that makes it easier for them to play their game. They also are inordinately quick to point out how talented and amazing they think Ozzie is. And they would be the best people to know.

Further, any hockey fan worth her skates can see Ozzie’s confidence and strength on the ice. He doesn’t “try to help” like other goalies - you know the ones who try to play the puck behind the net, wind up getting themselves caught up, or chipping the puck somewhere not helpful to the team. Oh to be sure, he has done that a lot in the past, but this year? Ozzie has been executing some very helpful and interesting, timely plays and passes, not just behind the net, but out of the crease, at the faceoff circles- the sort of things that make him valuable as a 6^th man, especially on a PP….Hell he’s one of three goalie in these playoffs to have an assist. He’s smarter than other goalies, staying calm no matter what, knowing when to stop the puck and when to let it stay in play, controlling the puck to control the tempo of the game. Time and time again in these playoffs I have watched him help the Wings just by his puck handling decision making process.

Unsubstantiated Criticism 3: Perception that Ozzie isn’t tough.

A Rumor Gets Halfway Around The World Before The Truth Has A Chance To Put Its Skates On. That is where this criticism comes from, its just more and more people perpetuating innuendo, rumor, and an ill-concieved dated perception from the mid 1990s.

Detractors still make reference to that 1992 loss to the Shark’s where a very young man shed tears, or that ill conceived column after the 1998 Stanley Cup.

My response is threefold:

1. That columnist was dead fricking wrong in 1998, and if I could find the article I’d tear it apart point by point, end of story.

2. The Sharks loss was a bazillion years and 4 Cups ago. Please if you have to criticize and you can’t be logical or supportable, please be relevant.

3. I’ll take a kid who is so broken over his own performance, who blames himself so fully, that he is reduces to tears over the kid who points fingers at everyone else and who whines.

Not tough? Are you kidding me? Here is a guy who played through the most evolutionary changes the league has ever seen and suffered some of the harshest criticism, including from his own. GM, Kenny H. once famously said Ozzie was “an NHL Goalie with High school technical skills”. How did Ozzie respond? He completely reformatted his game and at age 32 took on a new style of play, morphing and coming back bigger faster stronger tougher and winning more Stanley Cups.

Unsubstantiated Criticism 4: Ozzie has let some weak, game/series ending goals in during his career.

See UC 3 above, and think about this: the guy has been playing in the league for almost 16 years (since 1992) and all people ever cite are three soft goals in the late 1990’s- again, timely relevance? That McInnis slap shot from center ice. Nick Lidstrom has done it time and time again these playoffs and you don’t see anyone calling Mason Hiller or Khabibulan the worst goalie to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And by the way: the resiliency with which Osgood comes back from adversity and such weak goals is flawless. Think of how he handled AFTER the McInnis goal against St. Louis. He stood on his head. He doesn’t crack and become a sieve like Patrick Roy has been known to do.

Unsubstantiated Criticism 5: Ozzie was lackluster in the 2009 regular season.

Well, interestingly I was prepared to say that I actually cannot argue the numbers on this one, but as it turns out, His numbers aren’t the worst. Whose to say it’s a terrible regular season when your ranked 17^th in the league for wins and you only played about half of the season? I’m not saying Ozzie played like Steve Mason out there this year in the regular season, but he does not deserve all the criticism he has received when he was being better than average. No one ever accounts for the fact that the Wings faced opponents, who on a nightly basis, all wanted a piece of the Stanley Cup Champs.

Lets face it, the Detroit Red Wings have been the team to beat this year, and every single team that hits the Joe, comes to try and take the Stanley Cup Champs out. Essentially the Wings spent a great deal of the regular season having to elevate their game to playoff levels.

Then again, those of us who appreciate goaltenders may realize that Ozzie knows what matters. Perhaps- just perhaps- its not always such a good idea to let your young defense rely heavily on you as a goaltender. Perhaps it’s a good idea to make sure they can hold up their end of the game.

And then again, there are some of us who believe as long as you can elevate your game in the playoffs, an average regular season is fine, and can be strategic.

THE INDISPUTABLE TRUTH: HEART, CHARACTER AND NUMBERS PROVE CHRIS OSGOOD IS OSGREAT

The Heart and Character

I have talked about Ozzie and his heart and character above, I only add this: if you listen to Chris Osgood speak, whenever he is asked the “tough” (I say “mindless”) questions, he responds simply (and paraphrased), “I don’t care what there rest of the world thinks, I don’t pay attention. I care about Detroit. People there treat me well and love me and know what I can do. Detroit is my home and that is who I play for.”

In both the 2009 playoffs (especially the Thucks series) and the entirety of the 2008 playoffs Ozzie proved that he is probably the Number 1, clutch goalie of all time. He certainly is one of the all time greats at rising to the playoff occasion (see stats below). Time and time again, we hear the media ask “how does Ozzie flip the switch???” Ozzie simply responds: “I’ve been in the league 15 seasons. I play for Detroit, where we will always be in the Playoffs. I know how to do this.”

But as actions speak louder than words, sometime hard numbers hit home hardest….

The Numbers

(Cuz You Knew I Would.)

3 Time Stanley Cup Winning Goalie, on his way to leading his team to his 4^th, and tying the legendary Terry Sawchuck.

2 Time Jennings Winner.

10^th Winningest Goalie of All Time, 389 wins (ahead of Hasek, Richter, Hextall) with a 2.47 GAA. Of the top ten all time goalies, only Martin Brodeur and Jacque Plante have a better Goals Against.

Ozzie’s All Time Goals Against Average is better than Patrick Wah (2.53), Cujo (2.50) and Belfour (2.79).

23^rd in All Time Shutouts with 49. (3rd amongst active goaltenders).

8^th Winningest Goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 73 playoff wins in his career, so far.

4^th All Time Playoff Shutouts- Ozzie got his 14th career playoff shutout moving him into a tie with Belfour, Hasek and Plante.

One of only 9 goaltenders to ever score a goal, Ozzie ranks 3^rd among active goaltenders with 18 career points (1goal, 17 assists) behind Brodeur and Cujo.

Osgood beat Terry Sawchuck’s record last year for playoff wins: In 2008 he surpassed the Legendary Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk to move into top spot among Detroit net-minders in both playoff wins and shutouts. This year Osgood is 14-4 with 73 wins and 14 shutouts in his playoff career.

2^nd in 2009 Playoffs for GAA with a 1.94, stalking Tim Thomas’ 1.85. and maintaining a stellar Save Percentage of .930 (currently ranked 3^rdbehind Hiller and Thomas). He’s had one shut out and credited with one assist.

2009 Regular Season stats: Ozzie cannot be beat in overtime, he is ranked No. 1. Ranked 17th in wins with a decent 26–9–8 record, Save Percentage of .887 and GAA 3.09 which are only slightly lower than last year.

In the 01-02 and 03-04 Seasons he played 65+ games each season and had a GAA under 2.50 both seasons.

1995-96 Season: 1995–1996 season, and he led the NHL with a 2.17 GAA and 39 wins. He also finished third in shutouts (5) and was a Vezina Trophy runner-up to Jim Carey who later retired to Florida to run a pet detective agency.

DON’T YOU DARE LAUGH AT THAT, it was a pathetic attempt, I should be forced to listen to “Mocking Bird” over and over again while Snow and Ice from a freshly zamboni’ed rink is dripped on my forehead…”Hockey Boarded” if you will.

The Intangibles

Oh yea there is more, are you really surprised?

He pummeled Patrick Roy in 1997-1998.

According to his presser and several recent interviews, Ozzie would like to become a bullpen catcher for Detroit Tigers when his hockey career is over.

He has the world most thankless job –a Red Wing Goalie. Hockeytown is supremely tough on goalies- we don’t allow any cracks and we persecute the tiniest oldest mistakes. We ran Cujo out…. Just look at the greats who have not lasted here. Ozzie has spent almost the entirety of his NHL career as a Wing and most of that as a back up goalie. Yet he is flawless when asked to step up makes the big plays the big wins, and to carry the team. He has lasted through almost 3 generations of Red Wings Teams: The Red Army Team, The Lidstrom Era, and now the Eurotwins Era.

Even after 16 years in the league (15 seasons) Ozzie continues to grow his game, his skill set and his talent, evolving as the game evolves. And this game has evolved like mad since 1992 when he first step blade onto NHL Ice. He has come back from adversity stronger and better than before and you never hear any complaints. Instead you hear him say “I love Detroit and the people here, its my home.”

Ozzie embodies humility, hard work and all the attractive personality traits you should want in your star athletes. He knows and live his life, plays his game by these rules: SHUT UP AND WORK. Work harder than you think you can, harder than you think you should and harder than you are being given credit or payment for.

So finally, after all my logic and my theory I ask:

What more do you need to prove Chris Osgood deserves the respect of his contemporaries like Brodeur and Roy and Hasek?

Its time to let go of the Ozzie bashing and recognize Chris Osgood for the future HOFF’er that he is, as important to the Wings successes as Stevie Y, Nic Lids, Hank Z. Perhaps most importantly he is an extraordinarily talented NHL goalie who deserves credit where credit is due.

Ozzie for Conn Smythe, Nobody Beats the Wiz.

.