Former Habs Lyle Odelein dead at 58

Former Habs Lyle Odelein dead at 58
Credit: Getty Images

Lyle Odelein, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman and Stanley Cup champion, has died.

Drafted by the Canadiens in 1986, the rugged defenseman played 420 regular-season games with Montreal between 1989 and 1996, recording 95 points and 1,367 penalty minutes.

He was part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1993, a moment he considered one of the most important of his career.

Odelein later played for several NHL teams and notably became the first captain in Columbus Blue Jackets history.

His professional career continued until 2006.

He had survived a serious infection in 2018 that required an extraordinary medical procedure involving liver and kidney transplants, as well as the replacement of his aortic valve.

Lyle Odelein was 58 years old.