Absolutely. My mom would take my dad's car to go home to go south. [8], Olczyk and his wife, Diana, have three sons, all former hockey players, and one daughter. (Photo courtesty of NBC Sports) Eddie Olczyk played five seasons with the New York Rangers and was part of their Stanley Cup championship team in 1994. His younger brother, Ricky Olczyk, also fell in love with the game. However, it feels like there may have also been a little more at play in this particular scenario. 1 Marriage 4 Children. Eddie Olczyk Jr., the son of former NHL forward and NBC Sports hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk, released the following statement Thursday on Twitter in response to countless messages the. He returned to Pittsburgh to become the color commentator for the Penguins on FSN Pittsburgh, where he was given the nickname "Edzo" by current radio announcer and then co-announcer Mike Lange. Of all the NHL transactions this offseason, one of the most unexpected was Olczyk leaving his hometown team and the Blackhawks broadcast after 16 seasons to join the Kraken. His son, Nick, has rented near him, but on a more permanent basis as he develops Kraken content across TV, radio and digital platforms. In negotiations, sometimes you cant come to terms, and thats what happened here., The Hawks released a statement: For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to have legendary broadcaster Eddie Olczyk bring Chicago Blackhawks hockey into the homes of our fans. In 2003, he moved from the booth to the bench and served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 11, 2003, until December 15, 2005. He joined the Hurricanes as assistant general manager in June 2014. Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. They could have him, Forslund and Brown in the same booth depending on the size of an arenas broadcast area or have one working from a different vantage point. Some changes perhaps will be for the better, but letting the best hockey analyst on TV walk out the door will not be one of them. The 18 game streak would remain a Toronto franchise record (tied with Darryl Sittler until being surpassed in December 2022 by Mitch Marner. So, Ive always admired that. My point is that Olczyk is a man of heart and a man who cares about the game of hockey and anybody else who happens to care about hockey. Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. He got to see his old team and his good friend Troy Murray at the Blackhawks game in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche to begin the season, which felt good. Olczyk had talked to a lot of people since the news broke, but he hadnt really seen many Blackhawks personnel since then. Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis has known the Olczyk family for years. He would have been honest, but also positive, about the new direction. Honestly, I shouldnt say, but its only rained one day in like the 30 Ive been here so far. Neither would eleven, five, or even six. If they put something to mind, there's a good chance they'll succeed at it.". Blindsided. With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have.
Cancer survivor and former NHL player speaks about his journey His contract with the Blackhawks expired on June 30, and a team source said the leadership group was "blindsided" by Olczyk's decision to leave. And as Olczyk put it, the fans might not enjoy the outcome but he hopes you enjoyed the broadcast. Thats the pull announcers have in Chicago. He spent 16 years in the National Hockey League, playing for six teams, including the Penguins. He and Pat Foley, who is also now gone. Tommy is a nationally ranked senior forward for Penn State. Rickys place in the organization definitely helped facilitate the family coming together with the Kraken. That rumor has become a reality. Thats just whatever. In 1992, he was traded for the third time in his career, this time to the New York Rangers for Kris King and Tie Domi. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? The moves are not sitting well with fans, who might feel the sting of this more than the rebuild. The news of Olczyk leaving the Blackhawks. [12], On August 8, 2017, Olczyk issued a statement through the Blackhawks to announce that he had been diagnosed with a form of colon cancer. Having grown up in the hockey aspect of it, you just watch them all how they grow on the ice and as human beings,, About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. He is one of us, a Blackhawks fan. Plus, like with all of his contracts, Olczyk had asked his brother, Ricky, a former lawyer, to look it over before signing. Their parents have enjoyed watching the relationship evolve and witnessing how each son arrived at his goal of the NHL in his own way. Olczyks son spent four seasons as a radio analyst on ECHL Indy Fuel broadcasts. We all simply have to get used to a different voice. After that, he became one of the best color commentators in the sport. That became more complicated when the family moved from Niles, a northwest Chicago suburb, to Palos Heights, a southwest suburb, and Eddie still had practices in the northwest suburbs. They were hoping Eddie would be a bridge to that newness. Having walked in that building for 16 straight years, under some real emotional time, not only franchise-wise but also personally, spent a lot of my life there, so Im sure the time to reminisce and be able to really kind of sit back. Plus the fact that he always went out of his way to praise his partner, The great Pat Foley.Shucks, nobody calls me, The great Gail Kauchak!.
Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk bolts for Seattle Kraken after Hawks He has more than earned the right to command whatever he wants as far as contracts go. But, of course, both say thats a compliment. Its the first time hes been on the same team as his older brother, Eddie. And it all began with that little yellow pamphlet. Every time he was traded or signed to a new team, the family had to pick up and move to a new home. God bless! Former NHL forward and coach Eddie Olczyk has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The broadcasting part of it, you know, just get into the booth, throw the headset on and wherever you are, Olczyk said.
Eddie Olczyk leaving Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth, expected to The weathers been unbelievable, Olczyk said. Midway through a radio broadcast last January, Nick made an emergency TV debut filling in for his dad, who was taken to a hospital with what turned out to be a minor illness. how hockey crazy the family is, We have a plaque, actually, in our house right when you walk in the foyer that says, We interrupt this family for hockey. I think thats a perfect slogan if you can quote our family., And with their family, was always Diana. Editorial Reviews. Eddie Olczyk and Diana Olczyks family live and breathe hockey. But I dont see that happening for a long time. I went from building a case for why he should have been considered Chicagos next general manager on Blackhawks Banter, to being less than surprised to see him depart their broadcasting booth. With that, our Blackhawks team wanted to get together to reflect on this monumental change. Related: Olczyk Embodies Passion for Life, Hockey. And so, it was fully wanting to ask their permission, and we just took our time.. But at the same time, I think its exciting to be a part of something new.. Hall of Fame play-by-play voice Pat Foley was forced out after last season, the team traded star winger Alex DeBrincat on draft day and now Olczyk is departing. You need that entering a rebuild, and theyre missing out. He eventually arrives at a restaurant. He was teammates with Eddie and now works with Ricky, and Francis wasn't surprised the brothers each reached the NHL. The two sides fit perfectly in that regard. In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. Honestly, you could probably put Olczyk in any hockey TV booth around the league and hed be more than fine. He even stated, I will die a Blackhawk. Because of that, he could relay what most were thinking, whether good or bad. Zandra is a student at the University of Alabama. Despite his arrival at Turner for hockey, Olczyks deal will allow him to remain at NBC to cover handicap horse racing. Is Najee Harris Related to Pittsburgh Steelers Legend, Franco Harris? I think both sides certainly expected to get a contract done. That was hard to hear because it seemed like all the Blackhawks had to do was give him what he wanted. When I knew I wasnt going to be back, and the Seattle thing finally came to fruition, to see the schedule, I went, OK, I dont have to wait very long to come back, Olczyk said. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on February 22, 2013. Their youngest son, Nick, plays for the South Shore Kings of the U.S. Premier Hockey League and plays for Colorado College. Eddie Olczyk, Perry Lefko. In a seismic event in the Chicago sports market, the Blackhawks and TV analyst Eddie Olczyk are parting ways. Nick played for the Colorado College Tigers and, in 2022, became a television studio analyst for the Seattle Kraken. CHICAGO -- Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts.. He's expected to work Seattle Kraken games next season, joining the . That's as far as I'm gonna go on that.
Olczyk, cancer-free since March, has much to celebrate [11], Rick Olczyk, Eddie's younger brother, is a former hockey player for Brown University and became an assistant general manager for the Kraken in 2019. Ill leave it at that. All you young hockey fans out there, Keep your stick on the ice!, Stop it right there. Olczyk is the latest big name to leave the organization, which has been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. Or do you want to spend your remaining time in the limelight youve always known? Reviews. Im not confident that theyll find their permanent fit by next season. . Eddie Olczyk is a famous American ice hockey player. And so to be able to work with him, its extremely satisfying, gratifying. Youre a proven star. But, now he's moving on. On Buzzlearn.com, Eddie is listed as a successful Hockey Player who was born in the year of 1966. We're truly grateful and appreciative of it. In the big picture, the Hawks are focused on saving money. Book a personalized video $49. Who Is Kimmi Chex? About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. (/ o l t k /; born August 16, 1966) is an American former center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. Hed thought about it plenty while mourning with his younger brother, Ricky, a Kraken assistant general manager, and the rest of his close-knit family in their Chicago hometown, where onetime NHL center Olczyk spent years as a Blackhawks player and 15 more as a broadcaster working their games. My favorite Edzo moment came back in March 2018, when the Blackhawks were playing the Vancouver Canucks. It seems like the Blackhawks stiffed him in that sense, and if thats the case, then thats disheartening knowing they didnt step up to the plate. Eddie Olczyk on Unfiltered: 'This was my decision' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago.
"[14], In October 2019, Olczyk released his autobiography, Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life, in which he shares details of his fight with stage 3 colon cancer.[15]. next general manager on Blackhawks Banter,, Blackhawks 4 Best Options to Replace Eddie Olczyk as TV Analyst, reported he left the organization as well, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker Live Updates, NHL Trade Bait List for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, NHL Rumors: Bruins, Coyotes, Senators, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Blackhawks Bytes Deadline Edition: Johnson, Lafferty, Kane, Domi, Grading the Wilds Trade for John Klingberg, Flames Acquire Stecher & Ritchie in Uneventful Deadline, NHL Trade Deadline Minor Moves: Hunt, Asplund, Brown & More, Deadline Moves Oilers Didnt Make Will Lead to Offseason Swings, Sabres Acquire Greenway from the Wild for Picks, Bruins Get Gritty Boost with Hathaway Trade Deadline Addition, Flames Acquire Nick Ritchie & Troy Stecher From Coyotes, 4 Fun Facts About Edmonton Oilers Newest Player Nick Bjugstad, Blue Jackets Use Trade Deadline to Setup Big Offseason, Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Schenn, McCabe, Woll& More, Wild Acquire Sundqvist from Red Wings For a Draft Pick.