Lyle Odelein

Lyle Theodore Odelein (born July 21, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey
defenceman who played for eight National Hockey League (NHL) teams in 16 seasons, and
Lyle Odelein
was the inaugural captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Born July 21, 1968
Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Playing career Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Odelein played junior hockey for the Moose Jaw Warriors before being drafted by the
Shot Right
Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round (141st overall) in 1986.
Played for Montreal Canadiens
His playing style adapted through his career; primarily used as a defensive defenceman early New Jersey Devils
in his career (as well as an enforcer), but became more of a two-way threat when former Phoenix Coyotes
Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers used him on the power play. Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks
His first NHL goal was a highlight-reel end-to-end rush against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Dallas Stars
Ed Belfour on December 19, 1991. Florida Panthers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Odelein won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. National team Canada
NHL draft 141st overall, 1986
The 1993–94 NHL season marked Odelein's career highlight. He scored 11 goals, 29 assists
Montreal Canadiens
and 40 points, all career highs, scoring 24 of those points in 26 games in February and March
that season. As well, he scored a hat trick against the St. Louis Blues and goalie Jim Hrivnak Playing career 1989–2006
on March 9, 1994. His 5 assists on February 2, 1994, against the Hartford Whalers, tied a
single-game record for a Canadiens defenseman held by Doug Harvey, which was also tied in 2004 by Sheldon Souray.

Prior to the 1996–97 season, Odelein was traded by the Canadiens to the New Jersey Devils for Stéphane Richer on August 22, 1996. In the 1999–
2000 season, his fourth with the Devils, Odelein was traded by the Devils to the Phoenix Coyotes for Deron Quint and a third round selection on
March 7, 2000.

Odelein's tenure with the Coyotes was short as he was claimed in the expansion draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 23, 2000. He was later
named the first captain of the Blue Jackets before their inaugural season in 2000–01.

During his second season in Columbus Odelein was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for defensemen Jaroslav Špaček. The following season he
was on the move again when he was traded to the Dallas Stars. After just three regular season games and two more in the playoffs, he was done in
Dallas and found himself without a guaranteed contract offer in the off-season.

Odelein's next opportunity came from the Florida Panthers who offered him a try out that proved successful and led to a $650,000 one-year
contract.[1] For the first—and only—time in his career, Odelein stayed healthy for the full season and played in all 82 games for the Panthers. The
Panthers' general manager Rick Dudley expressed interest in retaining Odelein[1] when his contract expired, however, a lockout that erased the
2004-05 NHL season, and a changing of the guard in Florida that saw Dudley replaced by Mike Keenan, spelled the end of Odelein in Florida.

Odelein's final NHL stint came with the Pittsburgh Penguins when he inked a one-year, $500,000 deal[2] on September 2, 2005. However, he
managed just 27 games before injuring his knee, gaining just a single assist, and retired from professional hockey.

Odelein finished his NHL career with 184 fights and 2,316 career penalty minutes, placing him 30th all-time.

Personal
Odelein's brother Selmar lives in Saskatchewan also and played briefly for the Edmonton Oilers before playing for Team Canada and moving to
Europe. Another brother, Lee, played professionally in Europe. After retirement, Odelein spent time on his family farm in Saskatchewan and also
maintains a home in Pittsburgh. Odelein has three children, Paulyna, Dylan and Mackenzy, from a previous marriage, Andrea Scott. His ex wife,
Andrea, is well known for her successful modeling and acting career in the 90s. Her top roles include Austin Powers and Baywatch.

In March 2018, Odelein was hospitalized and diagnosed with critical illness polyneuropathy, after falling into a coma and suffering paralysis.
Odelein underwent a heart valve, liver, and kidney transplant at Allegheny General Hospital in Pennsylvania. He was released from a rehabilitation
facility in July 2018 and was walking unaided by September 2018.[3]
Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1985–86 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 67 9 37 46 117 13 1 6 7 34
1986–87 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 59 9 50 59 70 9 2 5 7 26
1987–88 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 63 15 43 58 166 — — — — —
1988–89 Peoria Rivermen IHL 36 2 8 10 116 — — — — —
1988–89 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 33 3 4 7 120 3 0 2 2 5
1989–90 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 68 7 24 31 265 12 6 5 11 79
1989–90 Montreal Canadiens NHL 8 0 2 2 33 — — — — —
1990–91 Montreal Canadiens NHL 52 0 2 2 259 12 0 0 0 54
1991–92 Montreal Canadiens NHL 71 1 7 8 212 7 0 0 0 11
1992–93 Montreal Canadiens NHL 83 2 14 16 205 20 1 5 6 30
1993–94 Montreal Canadiens NHL 79 11 29 40 276 7 0 0 0 17
1994–95 Montreal Canadiens NHL 48 3 7 10 152 — — — — —
1995–96 Montreal Canadiens NHL 79 3 14 17 230 6 1 1 2 6
1996–97 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 3 13 16 110 10 2 2 4 19
1997–98 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 4 19 23 171 6 1 1 2 21
1998–99 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 5 26 31 114 7 0 3 3 10
1999–00 New Jersey Devils NHL 57 1 15 16 104 — — — — —
1999–00 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 16 1 7 8 19 5 0 0 0 16
2000–01 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 81 3 14 17 118 — — — — —
2001–02 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 65 2 14 16 89 — — — — —
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 12 0 2 2 4 4 0 1 1 25
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 65 7 4 11 76 — — — — —
2002–03 Dallas Stars NHL 3 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Florida Panthers NHL 82 4 12 16 88 — — — — —
2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 27 0 1 1 50 — — — — —
NHL totals 1,056 50 202 252 2,316 86 5 13 18 209

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1996 Canada WCH 2 0 0 0 0
Senior totals 2 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
NHL

Stanley Cup (Montreal Canadiens) 1992–93

See also
Fighting in ice hockey
List of NHL players with 1000 games played
List of NHL players with 2000 career penalty minutes

References
1. "Odelein Could Go Elsewhere" ([Link]
402210045_1_dudley-panthers-stanley-cup). Sun Sentinel. 21 February 2004. Archived from the original ([Link]
[Link]/2004-02-21/sports/0402210045_1_dudley-panthers-stanley-cup) on September 15, 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
2. "Penguins sign veteran defenceman Odelein" ([Link]
J&pg=6691,1226280). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 3 September 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
3. Portzline, Aaron. "At Death's Door: Former NHL star Lyle Odelein is a medical miracle after surviving a coma, triple transplant and
paralysis" ([Link]
a-coma-triple-transplant-and-paralysis/). The Athletic. The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
External links
Biographical information and career statistics from [Link] ([Link] or [Link] ([Link]
[Link]/[Link]?player=8937&lang=en), or [Link] ([Link]
o/[Link]), or The Internet Hockey Database ([Link]

Retrieved from "[Link]