Lyle Odelein, Stanley Cup-Winning Defenseman and First Blue Jackets Captain, Dies at 58
A 16-year NHL veteran, Odelein was a key member of the 1993 Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens and later served as the inaugural captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lyle Odelein, a defenseman who won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens and was the first captain in Columbus Blue Jackets history, died Friday. He was 58.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Odelein died after suffering a heart attack.
Odelein played 1,056 NHL games over 16 seasons, recording 252 points with 50 goals and 202 assists. He played for eight teams during his career: the Canadiens, Devils, Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Stars, Panthers, and Penguins.
Drafted by the Canadiens in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Draft, Odelein spent his first seven seasons in Montreal, where he was part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1993.
After stints with the New Jersey Devils and Phoenix Coyotes, Odelein was selected by the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. He was named the team's first captain, a role he held for three seasons.
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are deeply saddened by the passing of Lyle Odelin," the team said in a statement released Saturday. "Lyle is a significant part of our history, serving as our first captain and helping us celebrate our 25th season last March. He left an indelible mark on our organization and community.
"On the ice, Lyle was a fierce competitor and Stanley Cup champion. Off the ice, he was warm, kind, and quick with a smile and kind word. He was a friend to all who knew him and will be sorely missed. Our sincerest thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Laurel, his children, family and many friends. Rest in peace, Odie."
Odelein retired from the NHL after the 2005-06 season. In 2018, he experienced a severe health crisis after being pricked by cactus needles during a golf outing in Arizona, which led to a medically induced coma. He was initially paralyzed from the neck down and unable to speak, but he later regained his speech and was able to walk with a cane, even attending the Canadiens' celebration of their 1993 Stanley Cup win later that year.
"I don’t remember a lot because I was in a coma and paralyzed from my neck down," Odelein said at the ceremony. "There’s stuff that I didn’t even know that they were doing and neither did my wife, actually. It was really hard. Now I’m walking around with a cane and stuff, but things are going really, really well.
"It’s unbelievable. I can tell you one thing, there is a God. I had a five percent chance to live and if it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be here today."