NEW YORK, Sept. 28 -- The New York Islanders selected Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood with the first pick in the NHL waiver draft Friday, adding another proven veteran to a team that finished last overall in 2000-01.
Eight other players switched teams Friday, including veteran forward Kirk Muller, who was taken from Dallas by Columbus before being sent back to the Stars in a minor deal.
Also switching teams was seven-time All-Star defenseman Phil Housley, who went from Calgary to Chicago. In return, the Flames selected defenseman Jamie Allison from the Blackhawks.
Teams were allowed to protect 18 skaters and two goaltenders for the waiver draft, but had to remove one from the protected list after selecting a player.
Osgood was the top player available in Friday's draft, having won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. But he became expendable when Detroit traded for six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek.
"When you can acquire a player of Chris' caliber and accomplish it without giving up a player on your roster, you do it," Isles general manager Mike Milbury said.
Still owed $7.75 million over the next two seasons, Osgood joins a team that has built its franchise around 27-year-old centers Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca -- both acquired on draft weekend.
Yashin and Peca were captains with Ottawa and Buffalo before entangling themselves in contract disputes.
The Red Wings lost confidence in Osgood, who at just 28 could still start for several NHL clubs. The Islanders allowed 20-year-old Rick DiPietro to get his feet wet last season after taking him first overall in the 2000 draft.
Osgood ranks second in Red Wings history with 221 wins and 30 shutouts, going 221-110. He carried the load in Detroit's Stanley Cup-winning season of 1997-98, winning 16 of 22 playoff games with a 2.12 goals-against average.
Muller, 35, was taken by the Blue Jackets before being sent back to the Stars for the rights to defenseman Evgeny Petrochinin. A 17-year NHL veteran, Muller will be beginning his third season with Dallas.
Housley, 37, will give the Blackhawks a better presence on the power play after being taken from the Flames. He ranks third all time among defensemen in goals (317), fourth in assists (847) and fourth in points (1,164).
Allison, 26, had one goal, three assists and 53 penalty minutes in 44 games for Chicago last season.
After four of the five worst teams in the league last season passed in the draft, Minnesota took center Sebastien Bordeleau from St. Louis and later lost goaltender Martin Brochu to Vancouver.
The Canucks began training camp with Dan Cloutier, Mark Fitzpatrick, Alex Auld, Ken Carroll, Alfie Michaud and Kevin Swanson vying for the top two goaltender spots.
Tough guy P.J. Stock's second stint with the New York Rangers was interrupted when he was taken by Boston. The left wing played for Philadelphia and Montreal last season, recording 110 penalty minutes in 51 games.
Also, Tampa Bay took right wing Glen Metropolit from Washington, and Carolina selected center Josh Holden from Vancouver.
