Wings ---> Hasek and Osgood! the battle~
Via Detroit news:::
DETROIT -- With anybody else, there might be problems.
Think about this: You are an established NHL goaltender. You have led your team to a Stanley Cup and are still considered in the prime of your career. You pick up the paper one day and read that your team has just signed an elite, high-profile goaltender, and will pay him some $8 million to essentially take your job.
Tough business. But that's what happened to Chris Osgood in 2001. Just three years after helping the Red Wings win the Cup, Osgood ultimately was claimed by the Islanders in the waiver draft. That made room for Dominik Hasek.
Flash ahead to the summer of 2006. Osgood, who returned to the Red Wings and won 20 games the previous season, signed a two-year contract. For a minute it looked like he would be No. 1.
Nope. The Wings made headlines by bringing back Hasek.
"Kind of ironic, huh," said Wings forward Kirk Maltby, who has been here long enough to see Hasek come and go, come and go and come again. "The guy who kind of got kicked out of here for Dom the last time, kind of is here for that again and that's Chris."
Talking a good game
Had it been anybody else but Osgood, though, such a scenario could be messy.
Look back to Hasek's second incarnation with the Wings. He came out of retirement in 2003, after the Wings had signed high-priced free agent Curtis Joseph. Joseph didn't handle the situation well at all. In fact, the story goes that the goaltender shook hands the first day they met and never spoke again.
Their frosty relationship cast a pall over the entire locker room and added additional stress to an already tense season.
"That was a very tough situation, not only for me but also for the whole team," Hasek said. "Even from the beginning, we never talked to each other beyond maybe saying hi. It was hard to sit here and be a teammate. I feel completely different with Ozzie and my feeling is it should stay that way for the whole season."
Osgood and Hasek haven't gone out to dinner together or formed much of a relationship outside the arena yet, but there are signs of an early rapport.
"It's really too early to talk about our relationship," Hasek said. "However, I feel I can say I feel very comfortable around him. He's a friendly guy."
There are a couple obvious differences between Hasek's relationships with Osgood and Joseph.
First, both Hasek and Osgood are older and less likely to sweat the small stuff. Both are more predisposed to sharing the workload of an 82-game season.
"I don't feel I have to play 68 games any more," Hasek said.
Second, unlike with Joseph, there is no misunderstanding about who is No. 1 and No. 2. Osgood cannot dispute Hasek's six Vezina Trophies or his 28-10-4 record with Ottawa before he injured his groin last season.
Third, and probably most significantly, is Osgood's natural calm, congenial and largely non-confrontational personality. There might not be anybody in the game of hockey that he doesn't get along with. At age 33, Osgood is right where he wants to be -- in Detroit where he began his career (drafted by the Wings in 1991), where his wife Jenna and her family is from, with players he has grown up with (Maltby, Chris Draper, Nick Lidstrom) and with the full support and respect of the general manager (Ken Holland).
Problems getting along with Hasek? Doubtful.
"I've talked to Dom and we'll get to know each other more as we go on," Osgood said. "I knew him a little bit from before (in 2001 before being waived). He's a good guy. We just want to help the team win."
Osgood, frankly, would be embarrassed if his relationship with Hasek became an issue.
"That takes away from the focus of the team," Osgood said. "It's completely unnecessary. I'm sure we're going to get along, just like I've gotten along with every other guy I've ever played with. Teams don't need any of that sideshow extra stuff going on."
Lidstrom, expected to be named captain Thursday night, likes what he has seen of the chemistry so far.
"That was an awkward situation back then (2003)," he said. "As for now, we are all happy to have Dom here again. We have confidence in both goalies.
"I think it's an asset for our team to have two proven goalies. Either one can step in at any time."
Time to play
Where there was stony silence between Hasek and Joseph, there has been some good-natured ribbing between Hasek and Osgood, especially regarding the issue of playing time.
Hasek will playfully tell you that whichever goalie is playing well at the time should start. Then, in the next breath, will add that he thinks he should play at least 50 games.
Osgood will laugh and say he's fine with whatever role he's assigned, then makes a point to add that he can't imagine not playing at least 30 games, maybe 35.
"I always say it is good for a team to know who its starting goalie is," Hasek said, during a more serious moment. "But I also believe that performance on the ice is most important. Competition between two goalies, even teammates, is a good thing; if it's a healthy competition. I have nothing against it. He can play and I can play."
Coach Mike Babcock wasn't here for the 2003 goaltender cold war, but he certainly can't conceive it happening again this season.
"They are here to help each other out," he said. "Some teams play their No. 1 goalie 68 games. That's not going to happen here."
Maltby summed it up best.
"Goaltending, in this town especially, always takes the brunt of things, he said. "But our goalies over the years have been nothing short of spectacular."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My analysis: Hasek stays healthy, he will in the inevitable end play more than osgood! which is the biggest blessing in disguise in the world! i know ozzie fans, bash me if you want. but this guy sincerely gets on my nerves!
I know dom has had injuries, if the groin thing happens again its not surprising. but for now , and always ill be a full fledge dom supporter and one of those ozzie haters as ya'll put it. but whatever, everyone has their own oppinion. if anyone can lead us to the playoffs in the net its hasek!
how many cups does ozzie have? 1! how many does dom have along with all the achievements? 1 .. but had hasek been in detroit for those three stanley cups i think he would have had all three. but what im saying is even playing ground hasek haters. and besides, has ozzie ever won the veznia? NOPE he has won the william jennings.. but that was with Vernon, i really dont count that because vernie helped with alot of that!
as far as ozzie goes, hes a choke artist when it comes to the easy goals. he can stop some pretty good shots but after '99 when his finger was broken. that ended him.
DETROIT -- With anybody else, there might be problems.
Think about this: You are an established NHL goaltender. You have led your team to a Stanley Cup and are still considered in the prime of your career. You pick up the paper one day and read that your team has just signed an elite, high-profile goaltender, and will pay him some $8 million to essentially take your job.
Tough business. But that's what happened to Chris Osgood in 2001. Just three years after helping the Red Wings win the Cup, Osgood ultimately was claimed by the Islanders in the waiver draft. That made room for Dominik Hasek.
Flash ahead to the summer of 2006. Osgood, who returned to the Red Wings and won 20 games the previous season, signed a two-year contract. For a minute it looked like he would be No. 1.
Nope. The Wings made headlines by bringing back Hasek.
"Kind of ironic, huh," said Wings forward Kirk Maltby, who has been here long enough to see Hasek come and go, come and go and come again. "The guy who kind of got kicked out of here for Dom the last time, kind of is here for that again and that's Chris."
Talking a good game
Had it been anybody else but Osgood, though, such a scenario could be messy.
Look back to Hasek's second incarnation with the Wings. He came out of retirement in 2003, after the Wings had signed high-priced free agent Curtis Joseph. Joseph didn't handle the situation well at all. In fact, the story goes that the goaltender shook hands the first day they met and never spoke again.
Their frosty relationship cast a pall over the entire locker room and added additional stress to an already tense season.
"That was a very tough situation, not only for me but also for the whole team," Hasek said. "Even from the beginning, we never talked to each other beyond maybe saying hi. It was hard to sit here and be a teammate. I feel completely different with Ozzie and my feeling is it should stay that way for the whole season."
Osgood and Hasek haven't gone out to dinner together or formed much of a relationship outside the arena yet, but there are signs of an early rapport.
"It's really too early to talk about our relationship," Hasek said. "However, I feel I can say I feel very comfortable around him. He's a friendly guy."
There are a couple obvious differences between Hasek's relationships with Osgood and Joseph.
First, both Hasek and Osgood are older and less likely to sweat the small stuff. Both are more predisposed to sharing the workload of an 82-game season.
"I don't feel I have to play 68 games any more," Hasek said.
Second, unlike with Joseph, there is no misunderstanding about who is No. 1 and No. 2. Osgood cannot dispute Hasek's six Vezina Trophies or his 28-10-4 record with Ottawa before he injured his groin last season.
Third, and probably most significantly, is Osgood's natural calm, congenial and largely non-confrontational personality. There might not be anybody in the game of hockey that he doesn't get along with. At age 33, Osgood is right where he wants to be -- in Detroit where he began his career (drafted by the Wings in 1991), where his wife Jenna and her family is from, with players he has grown up with (Maltby, Chris Draper, Nick Lidstrom) and with the full support and respect of the general manager (Ken Holland).
Problems getting along with Hasek? Doubtful.
"I've talked to Dom and we'll get to know each other more as we go on," Osgood said. "I knew him a little bit from before (in 2001 before being waived). He's a good guy. We just want to help the team win."
Osgood, frankly, would be embarrassed if his relationship with Hasek became an issue.
"That takes away from the focus of the team," Osgood said. "It's completely unnecessary. I'm sure we're going to get along, just like I've gotten along with every other guy I've ever played with. Teams don't need any of that sideshow extra stuff going on."
Lidstrom, expected to be named captain Thursday night, likes what he has seen of the chemistry so far.
"That was an awkward situation back then (2003)," he said. "As for now, we are all happy to have Dom here again. We have confidence in both goalies.
"I think it's an asset for our team to have two proven goalies. Either one can step in at any time."
Time to play
Where there was stony silence between Hasek and Joseph, there has been some good-natured ribbing between Hasek and Osgood, especially regarding the issue of playing time.
Hasek will playfully tell you that whichever goalie is playing well at the time should start. Then, in the next breath, will add that he thinks he should play at least 50 games.
Osgood will laugh and say he's fine with whatever role he's assigned, then makes a point to add that he can't imagine not playing at least 30 games, maybe 35.
"I always say it is good for a team to know who its starting goalie is," Hasek said, during a more serious moment. "But I also believe that performance on the ice is most important. Competition between two goalies, even teammates, is a good thing; if it's a healthy competition. I have nothing against it. He can play and I can play."
Coach Mike Babcock wasn't here for the 2003 goaltender cold war, but he certainly can't conceive it happening again this season.
"They are here to help each other out," he said. "Some teams play their No. 1 goalie 68 games. That's not going to happen here."
Maltby summed it up best.
"Goaltending, in this town especially, always takes the brunt of things, he said. "But our goalies over the years have been nothing short of spectacular."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My analysis: Hasek stays healthy, he will in the inevitable end play more than osgood! which is the biggest blessing in disguise in the world! i know ozzie fans, bash me if you want. but this guy sincerely gets on my nerves!
I know dom has had injuries, if the groin thing happens again its not surprising. but for now , and always ill be a full fledge dom supporter and one of those ozzie haters as ya'll put it. but whatever, everyone has their own oppinion. if anyone can lead us to the playoffs in the net its hasek!
how many cups does ozzie have? 1! how many does dom have along with all the achievements? 1 .. but had hasek been in detroit for those three stanley cups i think he would have had all three. but what im saying is even playing ground hasek haters. and besides, has ozzie ever won the veznia? NOPE he has won the william jennings.. but that was with Vernon, i really dont count that because vernie helped with alot of that!
as far as ozzie goes, hes a choke artist when it comes to the easy goals. he can stop some pretty good shots but after '99 when his finger was broken. that ended him.
posted by *Manda* @ 11:07 AM
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