DETROIT, July 28 -- Goaltender Chris Osgood, who helped the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup title in 1997 and 1998, avoided salary arbitration with the team Friday by signing a three-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Osgood, a Group II restricted free agent, filed for arbitration on July 15 and was scheduled to go before an arbitrator next week. He collected $2.2 million last season.
"We're very happy to be able to avoid salary arbitration and have Chris signed for the next three years," general manager Ken Holland said. "Chris is an important part of our team and has played a large role in the success we've had over the past several years."
Osgood, 27, backed up Mike Vernon when the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, then went 16-6 with a 2.12 goals-against average in the 1998 postseason as Detroit repeated as champions.
He went 30-14-8 with six shutouts, a 2.40 GAA and .907 save percentage in 53 games last season, missing 16 games with a hairline fracture in his left glove hand.
A third-round pick in the 1991 draft, Osgood will be entering his eighth NHL season. He is 196-91-42 with a 2.36 GAA, .909 save percentage and 29 shutouts, ranking second in club history, in 337 NHL games.
During the postseason, Osgood is 36-21 with eight shutouts and a 2.14 GAA.
