I wish I made that shit up. Some Red Wings fan at pickuphockey.com posed this question, and tries to argue that Osgood may be a first ballot entrant based on his career wins. The guy spouts out a bunch of out-of-context career stats and cements his position by stating that "Stats are stats." Well, how can one possibly argue with that? Oh, yeah, I guess with the much more common adage that "Stats fucking lie." Or, in the case of Osgood's career, completely leave out the truth that he's a fairly dependable but completely unremarkable player whose stats have been padded from playing on an excellent defensive team for most of his career (much of which was as a back-up to better goaltenders).
This is indicative of a general problem I have with the typical moronic turds who think they're analysts and flock to message boards. When talking about potential HOFers, they crunch and compare numbers, peruse the league's all-time leaders lists in various categories, count the number of Cup rings... But that's all mostly bullshit. There's a much better way to decide if a guy belongs there which captures the context behind the numbers. Watch fucking hockey!! Anyone who does that wouldn't give a rat's ass if Osgood does in fact retire with better numbers than Grant Fuhr because, figuratively speaking, they're not in the same fucking league!
If and when I go to the Hall of Fame in Toronto, I want to be impressed and inspired by the faces and names. I want to feel a sense of awe, that I'm surrounded by the men (and about three women) who made the sport and hockey culture what it is today. There are names that are synonymous with excitement and drama. In my lifetime, that's Messier, and Roy, and Bure, and... uh... Adam Foote (for Rick). They are who belong. It is, after all, the Hockey Hall of FAME, not the Hockey Hall of League Leaders in Various Statistical Categories. That's why Cam Neely's in there and Mike Gartner is not. If I see Osgood in there in any capacity other than as another dude like me who's paid his admission to see the greats of hockey, I'll demand my money back.
Unless they have a video of his fight in the Roy exhibit. That'd be awesome.
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6 comments:
I want to get on early with this blog, that was brilliant. Osgood or Osbad as I like to call him does not belong in the Hall of Fame.
I agree, but if he is able to have more success in the future it could change my mind. He has had shades of brilliance since reinventing his style of play. He is by no means the reason Detroit has been successful but he is a part of it. I would argue that if Glenn Anderson is in the Hall then Osgood will get in.
I think Anderson's a questionable induction as well, but he definitely has more merit as a Hall of Famer than Osgood. Anderson still gets referenced by commentators quite often for his fearless style of crashing the net. He's the epitome of a style of play. No one will care about Osgood after he's retired.
I ask you when it is all said and done does Holmstrom make the hall, because he is the best ever at screening the goalie.
I ask you when it is all said and done does Holmstrom make the hall, because he is the best ever at screening the goalie.
Is he? I don't think he's any better at it than Smyth, for one. If they induct a guy for that style of play, it should be Dino Ciccarelli.
When it comes to inducting a guy because he epitomizes a style, Anderson's showcased speed and hands and, before he went past his prime, it was very entertaining to watch. Holmstrom's basically just a very solid dude who makes a better door than a window. He doesn't have much for hands or else he'd have more than a handful of 20 goal seasons.
A comparable to Anderson would be Denis Savard, who was also famous for a particular style as well as his offensive proficiency. Holmstrom's style is more comparable to a guy like Craig Ludwig who was one of the league's best shot-blockers or Yanic Perrault for being dominant on faceoffs. It's a valuable skill for a team but it's nothing that I think should be honoured.
Looks like this season will be a perfect argument for why Osgood's career wins must be taken with a truckload of salt.
GAA: 3.29
S%: .881
W-L: 8-4
It doesn't matter who is net or how well he plays, Detroit piles up the wins in the regular season. Their starter has played like crap all season and they still have the 2nd best record in the league.
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