Let the Argument Begin!

To begin, here are Chris Osgood's career numbers.

Osgood

Now, the argument for Osgood being a Hall of Famer

3 Stanley Cup Rings as a goaltender. 2 time recipient of the William M. Jennings Trophy for best Goals Against Average (tied with Mike Vernon for one year, and Dominic Hasek the other). 10th NHL goalie to reach 400 wins. 4 time All Star. Osgood has been a gamer his entire career, and has never let any off ice pressures affect his game. Also managed to score a goal on March 6, 1996 in a game against Hartford.

Now the argument against

Yes he has three Stanley Cup rings, all won with the Detroit Red Wings, arguably one of the best defensive teams and easily the best offensive team of his era. His career save percentage is only .905 in the regular season, and .916 in the playoffs, and he never once cracked .920. In his years away from Detroit, he was decidedly average. He will always be remembered as the guy who would let in soft goals. Also, he was actually waived by the Wings in 2001, which led to his stints with the Islanders and Blues.

In my mind, Chris Osgood does not belong in the Hall of Fame, though I wouldn't be too terribly upset if he did make it in. He did win 401 regular season games after all, which puts him exactly 401 wins ahead of me. He was always a class act, and he was genuinely fun to root for. Hell, he even fought Patrick Roy twice, and was right in the thick of the best parts of the Wings-Avalanche rivalry.