Former Canadiens defenceman Lyle Odelein dies at 58

Lyle Odelein, a defenceman who won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, died Friday at age 58. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported he died of a heart attack.

Odelein played 420 games for Montreal between 1990 and 1996 after being drafted by the Canadiens in the seventh round in 1986. He scored 20 goals and 75 assists in that span, but was known primarily for his defensive work and physical play. He led the Canadiens in penalty minutes in each of his six seasons with the team and ranked second in franchise history with 1,357 penalty minutes.

Beyond Montreal, Odelein played 16 NHL seasons across seven teams: New Jersey, Phoenix, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. His final season was 2005-06 with the Penguins. He was the first captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets when the team joined the NHL in 2000.

"The entire Canadiens organization is saddened to learn of the passing of Lyle Odelein, who passed away Friday at the age of 58," the team said in a statement Saturday. "Lyle is a significant part of our history, serving as our first captain and helping us celebrate our 25th season in March. He left an indelible mark on our organization and on our community. On the ice, Lyle was a fierce competitor and a Stanley Cup champion. Off the ice, he was warm, kind and quick with a smile and a kind word."

Odelein, who was from Quill Lake, Saskatchewan, lived in the Pittsburgh area at the time of his death.