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But, don't try to sell him to me as a great goalie. He is effective.
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10 years ago, I thought Osgood was good, not great....however the numbers do not lie. When you look at the numbers, you can not argue that Osgood has not been a great goalie with a career filled with accomplishments.
The NHL has been around for over 80 years. In that time, probably a few thousand guys have stood between the pipes for an NHL team or another.
In all of that time, thousands of goalies who have played in the best league in the world...Chris Osgood's career numbers put him in the top 10-20 goalies of all time. He still has a few good years left and before it is all over, he will be in the top 10 of all time in most categories.
Has Osgood benefited by playing on great teams? Absolutely... no one blames Patrick Roy, Grant Fuhr, Espesito, or Ken Dryden for playing on great teams do they?? It is all of these guys who contributed to their great teams and made them great, Stanley Cup winning teams.
But somehow...the casual hockey fan looks at Osgood's small stature, and Opie like face and thinks that he is average.... well the numbers and facts do not lie. Osgood has had a stellar, great career ranking him right up there with the greatest of all time.
The sprawling great save he made last night on Gary Roberts saved the game... you dont win Stanleys without great goaltending.