Lyle Odelein

Lyle Odelein (born July 21, 1968, in Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a retired hockey player in the National Hockey League. He has played for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career
Odelein played junior hockey for the Moose Jaw Warriors before being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round (141st overall) in 1986.

His playing style adapted through his career; primarily used as a defensive defenceman early in his career (as well as an enforcer), but became more of a two-way threat when former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers used him on the power play.

His first NHL goal was a highlight-reel end-to-end rush against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Ed Belfour on December 19, 1991.

Odelein won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

The 1993–94 NHL season marked Odelein's career highlight. He scored 11 goals, 29 assists and 40 points, all career highs. As well, he scored a hat trick against St. Louis Blues goalie Jim Hrivnak on March 9, 1994. His 5 assists on February 20, 1994, against the Hartford Whalers, tied a single-game record for Canadiens defensemen held by Doug Harvey.

Odelein is perhaps most famously known for an incident during the 1995–96 NHL season where he shot a puck at the Buffalo Sabres bench as time expired.

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 1999–00 season, his fourth with the Devils, Odelein was traded by the Devils to the Phoenix Coyotes for Deron Quint and a 3rd 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. Lyle was later named the first captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets before their inaugral season in 2000–01.

Odelein signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 2, 2005. However, he managed just 27 games before injuring his knee, gaining just a single assist. He has not played professional hockey since undergoing knee surgery in February 2006, but has not announced his retirement to date and is considered a free agent.

Awards and achievements

 * 1992–93 NHL  Stanley Cup  (Montreal Canadiens)