Red Wings sign G Osgood to extension

Jan 9, 2008 - 11:15 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday signed goaltender Chris Osgood to a three-year contract extension through the 2010-11 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Detroit News reported the deal is worth an average of $1.5 million per season.

Osgood, 35, is earning $800,000 this season and was scheduled to become and unrestricted free agent July 1. He is 19-2-1 this season and leads the NHL with a 1.68 goals-against average.

"I just wanted to work hard," Osgood said. "I had worked hard in the offseason to prepare myself for the season and better my game. I did come to the fact that I wanted to finish where I started. I wondered if I should sign a one-year or two-year deal after the season and take it from there."

Splitting time with veteran Dominik Hasek, Osgood is 30-5-7 during the past two seasons with the Red Wings, who currently own the league's best record at 33-8-3.

"Chris has a tremendous career record as an NHL goaltender and his performance this season places him as one of the top goalies in the game today," Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. "He's been a big part of our success in every season he has been with the Wings and we're very happy to have him signed for an additional three seasons."

Taken 54th overall by the Red Wings in the 1991 draft, Osgood had his breakout season in 1995-96 as he led the NHL with 39 wins and helped Detroit set a league record with 62 victories.

Though a backup to Mike Vernon the following season, Osgood helped the team claim its first Stanley Cup in 32 years. He played a more prominent roll during the 1997-98 season, winning an NHL-best 16 postseason games and helping Detroit repeat as league champions.

He was claimed by the New York Islanders from Detroit in the waiver draft in September 2001 and later traded to St. Louis in 2003. Osgood returned to Detroit in August 2005 when the team signed him as a free agent.

Osgood, who owns a 355-188-12 regular season mark with 66 ties, is tied for 15th in all-time victories.