Chris Osgood (born 26 November, 1972 in Peace River, Alberta, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player. Osgood has played for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and the St. Louis Blues. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.

Playing Career

Osgood was drafted 3rd Choice in the Third Round (54th overall) in the 1991 Entry Draft by the Red Wings. He played for the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, Brandon Wheat Kings , and Seattle Thunderbirds before being allocated to the AHL's now defunct Adirondack Red Wings , who were at the time the minor league affiliate for the Red Wings.

While his 1992-1993 season was spent with Adirondack, he broke through as a Detroit Red Wing in the 1993-1994 season, backstopping along side a carousel of goalies for that season, including Tim Cheveldae , Bob Essensa , Vincent Riendeau , and Peter Ing . Osgood's efforts in the 1993-1994 season did not go unnoticed, and many Red Wings fans began to take note as to what this young goaltender was capable of.

While the 1994-1995 season started late due to a lockout, Osgood found himself backing up Mike Vernon for the season. While the Wings had reached the Stanley Cup finals that season, they were unexpectedly swept in four games by the New Jersey Devils. In light of this, Osgood received significantly more playing time for the 1995-1996 season. However, another premature exit soon followed, after the Red Wings lost the Western Conference Finals to the Colorado Avalanche.

It wasn't until the 1996-1997 Season that both Osgood and Vernon finally had their names placed on the Stanley Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in four games to obtain the Red Wings's first Stanley Cup in over 40 years.

After the Cup was won in 1997, Vernon was traded to the San Jose Sharks. Osgood became Detroit's number one goaltender, with Kevin Hodson and Norm Maracle backing him up for the 1997-1998 season. Again, the Red Wings were able to advance to the Stanley Cup finals and defeat the Washington Capitals to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

However, in then 1998-1999 season, even after acquiring goaltender Bill Ranford before the trade deadline, the Red Wings failed to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup. Osgood remained the primary goaltender for Detroit for the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons, working alongside Ken Wregget and Manny Legace.

In the summer of the 2001-2002 season, the Red Wings acquired goaltender Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres, thus making him Detroit's number one goaltender. Osgood was left unprotected in the waivers draft and was acquired by the New York Islanders on 28 September 2001.

Osgood worked alongside Garth Snow for the 2001-2002 season, and both Snow and Rick DiPietro for the 2002-2003 season. Despite having winning seasons, Osgood was traded to the St. Louis Blues on 11 March 2003.

For the remainder of the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons, Osgood remained the primary goaltender for the Blues. Although Osgood posted winning records for both seasons, the Blues did not advance past the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

On 27 June, 2004, the Blues acquired Patrick Lalime from the Ottawa Senators, which was not uncommon with what Osgood experienced with Hasek and the Red Wings. Osgood's contract was not renewed by the Blues before the expiration of the Collective Barganing Agreement and as a result, Osgood currently remains an unrestricted free agent.

Awards

• Member of the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings - 1997. 1998
• William M. Jennings Trophy (shared with Mike Vernon) - 1996
• Played in NHL All-Star Game - 1996, 1997, 1998

Career Statistics

Regular Season