Lyle Odelein, a Stanley Cup-winning defenseman with the Canadiens and the first captain in Blue Jackets history, died on Friday.
He was 58.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he died after suffering a heart attack.
Odelein played 1,056 games across his 16-year NHL career, putting up 252 points (50 goals, 202 assists) while spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Stars, Panthers and Penguins.
The native of Saskatchewan was drafted by the Canadiens in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Draft and spent his first seven seasons in Montreal, helping the club win its most recent Stanley Cup in 1993.
Following a three-year stint with the Devils and a half season in Phoenix, Odelein was chosen by the Blue Jackets in the 2000 expansion draft and became the first captain in the team’s history.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are deeply saddened by the passing of Lyle Odelin,” the team said in a statement on 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.”
Odelin retired from the NHL following the 2005-06 season.
He suffered from a major health scare in 2018, being placed in a medically induced coma after being pricked by cactus needles during a golf outing in Arizona.
Odelin then experienced a slow road to recovery and was paralyzed from the neck down. He was unable to speak upon exiting the coma. Later that year, Odelin regained his speech and was able to walk with a cane for the Canadiens’ celebration of their ’93 Stanley Cup.
“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.”
