Detroit Red Wings

Would 2009 Stanley Cup Title Have Made Red Wings Osgood Hall Worthy?

Would a 2009 Stanley Cup win with the Detroit Red Wings and possibly a Conn Smythe Trophy win have made Chris Osgood Hall of Fame worthy?

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2022

Bob Duff

Hard to believe that it was 13 years ago today the last time that Chris Osgood and the Detroit Red Wings were playing in a Stanley Cup final. That’s when Game 7 of the 2009 final took place, on June 12 at Joe Louis Arena.

Wings fans don’t need – and probably would prefer if you didn’t – reminding that their heroes lost 2-1 that night to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Two goals by Max Talbot was the difference as the Penguins won the game and the series.

Soon, the Hockey Hall of Fame will be revealing the class of 2022, this year’s inductees to the hockey shrine. The list of first-time eligible players includes former Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg.

Among those also eligible from past years who are still awaiting the call from the Hall is Chris Osgood. He was the goalie for the 2009 Red Wings, as fate would have it.

A 2009 Win Could’ve Punched Osgood Hall Ticket

Suppose things have gone the other way on that fateful night and the Wings had successfully defended their 2008 title? As a reporter covering that series, I can tell you that there was a groundswell of support for Osgood winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL playoff MVP that spring, had the Wings won the Cup.

Do the math, and if you added a Conn Smythe and another Cup – it would have been his fourth – and the case for Osgood as Hall of Famer suddenly gets very compelling.

Adding Up Osgood’s Numbers

In 2008-09, he won 15 playoff games and posted a goals-against average of 2.01, along with a playoff-leading two shutouts and .926 save percentage. The season prior Osgood led NHL in regular-season (2.09) and postseason (1.55) GAA. In the playoffs, he added a playoff-leading 14 wns and three shutouts, along with a .930 save percentage. He also put together a nine-game win streak duing the playoffs.

Over his career, Osgood was selected to play in four NHL All-Star Games. He was selected to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team in 1995-96, when he led the NHL with 29 wins. He’s a two-time winner of the Jennings Trophy, was a Vezina Trophy runner-up in 1995-96 and played for five President’s Trophy-winning teams.

Osgood’s 401 wins rank 13th all-time in the NHL. He’s ninth in playoffs with 74 wins and owns a .574 postseason winning percentage.

Does it all add up to a Hall of Fame induction for Osgood? So far, no. Had he won that 2009 Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy, though, we might not be having this conversation.