Christopher John Osgood (born November 26, 1972 in
Peace River, Alberta) is a Canadian professional ice
hockey goaltender with the Detroit Red Wings of the
National Hockey League. He spent the first part of
his career with Detroit, and then playing for the
New York Islanders and the St. Louis Blues during
his 14-year NHL career before returning to Detroit
in 2005.
Chris Osgood debuted for the Detroit Red Wings
during the 1993–1994 season, becoming the fourth
netminder to man the crease, alongside Tim
Cheveldae, Vincent Riendeau, and Peter Ing.
Cheveldae, the team's primary starter and a former
all-star, along with Dallas Drake, was traded to the
Winnipeg Jets, in exchange for veteran goaltender
Bob Essensa and defenceman Sergei Bautin. Essensa
did not have a strong showing in a 13-game stint at
the end of the regular season, and Osgood was named
the primary netminder for the playoffs.
After Osgood's rookie season, management felt that
the team needed a strong veteran goaltender with
Stanley Cup playoff experience. In the summer of
1994, the Red Wings traded defenceman Steve Chiasson
to the Calgary Flames for goaltender Mike Vernon,
who had previously helped the Flames to the Stanley
Cup title in 1989.
