As I sat watching the Red Wings shut out Sidney Crosby and the penguins, I thought back to the days when Osgood wore that number 35 jersey in orange and blue and chants of Ozzi rang down from the rafters at the Coliseum. On September 8th, 2001 the Islanders picked up Chris Osgood in the waiver draft to replace the aging John Vanbiesbrouck in net. Osgood helped lead the islanders back to the playoffs for the first time since the 93-94 season and was part of one the most memorable playoff series in franchise history. After the successful 2001-2002 campaign Osgood expressed his desire to extend his stay on Long Island, but since the success he had on the ice Osgood was looking for more money. What happened next is another example of former GM Mike Millbury’s pure stupidity, Millbury low balled a number: 3 years at an average of $3 mill. On the advice of his agent Osgood rejected the offer and the never got an extension before training camp. Osgood’s decision haunted him all year and on the day of the trade deadline Millbury dumped him to the Blues. As he worked out on the ice with the previous games scratches TSN finally broke the news Osgood to the Blues for Justin papineau and that day changed the course of Islanders hockey. Rick DiPietro took over goal duties and the team has been in a bind ever since. The injury prone DiPietro has crippled the team (goalie wise) as his inconsistent play at times and weeks of time spent on the bench injured have forced the Islanders to play every back up goalie they can (especially this season). But when he’s healthy and in the zone he’s very good. But what would have happened if Osgood stayed, would we be playing playoff hockey? Would we be in a rebuild? Would we know the fate of our team? The answers we will never know, but watching him tonight and seeing how he’s won the cup once and may win it again if things work out for the Red Wings it makes me wish Osgood was still an Islander. In any case this rant was merely
Just A Thought.
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