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Lyle Odelein, whose 16-year NHL career concluded with the Pittsburgh Penguins, died Friday of a heart attack, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was 58 years old.
Following his retirement from hockey, Odelein made Fox Chapel his home with his wife, Laurel. The Penguins organization joined the rest of the hockey community in mourning a player who was more recognized for his physical presence in front of the net than for his offensive contributions.
"Lyle was known for his tough exterior on the ice, but we will always remember his generous heart and enormous laugh," the Penguins said in a statement Saturday. "Our condolences go out to his wife, Laurel, their children and the Odelein family."
Odelein signed a one-year, $500,000 contract with Pittsburgh in September 2005, brought in as a veteran presence for a roster that was still developing around Sidney Crosby's first full season. The Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, native appeared in 27 games, recording one assist and 50 penalty minutes before a knee injury ended his season and ultimately his career.
Those 27 games were the final chapter of an NHL career that spanned 1,056 contests, with 50 goals, 202 assists, and 2,316 penalty minutes—the latter ranking 30th in league history. Before his time in Pittsburgh, Odelein built a reputation as a rugged defenseman. Selected by Montreal in the seventh round of the 1986 NHL Draft, he was part of the Canadiens' last Stanley Cup-winning team in 1993, posting a plus-35 rating in the regular season and playing 20 playoff games. He later suited up for New Jersey, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, and Florida, and in 2000 became the first captain in Columbus Blue Jackets history.
After hanging up his skates, Odelein's life in Pittsburgh took on a different character. He and Laurel owned and operated numerous Supercuts franchises in the region and beyond, becoming integral members of the community. In 2018, Pittsburgh also became the place that saved his life. After a blood infection damaged his aortic valve and caused his liver and kidneys to fail, surgeons performed a rare triple transplant on April 4, replacing the valve and providing a new liver and kidneys. He survived the procedure, which left him temporarily paralyzed, and recovered enough to participate in Montreal's 25th-anniversary celebration of the 1993 Cup that fall.
Eight years later, his battle ended at home. Teams he played for paid tribute over the weekend. In Pittsburgh, the memory is more intimate: a brief, hard-nosed final season, a family that established roots in Fox Chapel, and a player remembered as much for his laugh as for his play.
Originally reported by yardbarker.