The Malik Report

Previous entry: Red Wings Alumni Association president Shawn Burr bests leukemia

by George Malik on 07/19/11 at 03:53 AM ET
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Oh, boy.  The Free Press’s Helene St. James believes that the Red Wings will announce that Chris Osgood is returning for at least one more season in the Red Wings’ net, and that makes sense to me given that the Wings haven’t signed anyone else already [edit: and NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman’s citing a “report” suggesting that St. James is correct,] but the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan reports that Osgood’s agent was taken by surprise when told that the team will hold a conference call today to announce Osgood’s plans….

The Red Wings have announced a teleconference call for noon today with general manager Ken Holland and goalie Chris Osgood . Neither returned phone calls or text messages Monday. Rollie Thompson, Osgood’s agent, was in the dark, too.

“I came back from my cottage, turned on the computer, and saw there was a news conference for (today),” Thompson said. “It’s all news to me.”

Thompson said he texted Osgood Monday evening and was told Osgood was “meeting with Kenny.” Thompson said he has spoken to Holland in recent weeks, but has yet to discuss any sort of contract issues regarding Osgood.

And both Fox Sports Detroit’s Art Regner, MLive’s Ansar Khan and the Macomb Daily’s Chuck Plieness, citing “sources” and their conversations with Thompson, insist that Osgood’s going to retire:

A source confirmed to The Macomb Daily late Monday that today’s noon conference call, which will include Osgood and Wings general manager Ken Holland, will be to announce the netminder’s retirement. Osgood will take a position with the team to work with young goaltenders within the organization.

Holland did not return calls or text messages looking for a comment. Holland and Osgood were scheduled to meet face-to-face in Vernon, British Columba, where they both have summer homes.

Osgood’s agent, Rollie Thompson, said Monday that he had not spoken to Holland about a new contract for his client. He also hadn’t spoken with Osgood since the Wings announced the noon conference call.

“There have been no contact talks,” Thompson told The Macomb Daily. “There have been no discussions, so I don’t know how there would be a contract.”

Thompson said he talked to Osgood at length, “a good hour,” on Saturday after he met with Holland.

“If he’s still enjoying it and physically able to continue I’d tell him to go for it,” Thompson said. “Sometimes it’s better to go out Gordie Howe style, on a high, rather than coming back and being raked over the coals if things don’t work out.”

Regner’s source tells him the same thing...

After 17 NHL seasons, 14 with the Detroit Red Wings, goalie Chris Osgood will announce his retirement during a noon conference call Tuesday, according to a source close to the team. Red Wings GM Ken Holland will also participate in the conference call. It’s believed Osgood will stay with the Red Wings as a coach, working with young goaltenders.

Osgood, 38, was a member of three Stanley Cup teams in Detroit and earned career victory No. 400 last season as a backup to Jimmy Howard. Osgood has 317 victories with the Red Wings, second only to Terry Sawchuk (352).

Osgood also played for the New York Islanders and the St. Louis Blues. Osgood was a third-round pick (54th overall) by the Red Wings in 1991. He has 401 career victories in 713 regular-season starts, 538 with the Red Wings. He ranks ranks 10th in victories in league history, just two behind former Edmonton Oilers great Grant Fuhr and six behind former Red Wing Glenn Hall.

Osgood’s regular-season goal-against average is 2.49 with a .905 save percentage and 50 shutouts. In 123 playoff starts, 110 with the Red Wings, he was 74-49 with a 2.09 GAA, .916 save percentage and 15 shutouts.

With Osgood’s retirement, Detroit is expected to bring back Ty Conklin as Howard’s backup.

As does Ansar Khan’s:

Chris Osgood, the second-winningest goaltender in Detroit Red Wings history, will announce his retirement on Tuesday, a source confirmed to Booth Newspapers on Monday. The announcement will be made during a media conference call with Osgood and general manager Ken Holland. Osgood, 38, has accepted a position with the team and will be working with the organization’s young goalies.

The Red Wings are expected to sign Ty Conklin as their backup goaltender this week.
...
“There has been no contract talks,” Thompson said. “There’s been no discussions, so I don’t know how there would be a contract.”

Holland did not return a call seeking comment. Thompson said he hadn’t spoken to Holland since last week and hadn’t talked to Osgood since Saturday.

“Chris was trying to sort through what his direction was,” Thompson said. “The two of them (Osgood and Holland) were going to talk and then there was going to be a decision.”
...
The Red Wings pursued several goalies through free agency, including Tomas Vokoun, who signed with Washington, Jose Theodore (Florida) and Mike Smith (Phoenix). But all wanted starting roles and weren’t interested in backing up Howard and playing only 20-25 games. Holland also talked extensively with the agent for former Conklin and said last week he was offered a goalie through a trade.

I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen, but I’d say it’s a coin flip…and either way, half of the Wings fans around will be ticked off that he returns//retires and the other half will be ticked off because he’s doing the other thing.

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