DETROIT — After 17 NHL seasons, 14 with the Detroit Red Wings, goalie Chris Osgood announced his retirement during a conference call Tuesday.
“It’s taken me a long time to think about this, since two weeks after the season ended,” Osgood said. “There were a number of issues, one being the injury I had. Knowing that I can still play made this difficult.“
“I wrestled with it every day, but I’ve decided to retire.“
After the Red Wings acquired Dominik Hasek before the 2001-02 they left Osgood unprotected on waivers. The Islanders claimed him and he led them to the playoffs, where they lost to the Maple Leafs in seven games. He would split time with now-Islanders GM Garth Snow and Rick DiPietro the following season before he was dealt to St. Louis.
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 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 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 goals-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.
Osgood told the Red Wings in May that he would like to play another season, but there was concern about his health. He had surgery for a sports hernia on Jan. 11 and did not play the rest of the season.