Mark Osborne

BIOGRAPHY

Left-winger Mark Osborne was a solid two-way forward who played over 900 NHL games for four different clubs. Although he scored over 200 career goals, the hard-working winger was best at winning battles in the corners and checking the opposition's top line.

The Toronto native was a junior standout with the OHA's Niagara Falls Flyers where he served as the team captain. He was taken 46th overall by the Detroit Red Wings at the 1980 Entry Draft then scored 39 goals his last year in junior. At the end of that season he joined the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings in time for the Calder Cup playoffs. This was his only minor league assignment until 1995.

In 1981-82, Osborne scored 26 goals for Detroit as a rookie. He slipped to 19 goals the next year after which he was traded to the New York Rangers in a multi-player transaction that featured Ron Duguay and Willie Huber. "Ozzie" was a consistent two-way forward for the Rangers and helped the team reach the semi-finals in 1986.

Prior to the March trade deadline in 1987, Osborne was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped the team come within one win of the semi-finals that year and scored a career best 73 points in 1989-90 while playing on the "GEM" line with Ed Olczyk and Gary Leeman. The good fortune did not carry over to the next season as the Leafs stumbled out of the gate and Osborne was traded with Olczyk to Winnipeg.

Late in the 1991-92 season, Osborne was reacquired by Toronto and was an effective checker. He formed a fine defensive trio with Peter Zezel and Bill Berg and helped Toronto reach the Conference finals in 1993 and 1994. Prior to the lockout-shortened season, the veteran signed with the New York Rangers. Osborne retired in 1997-98 after playing parts of three seasons with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the IHL.