Eddie Olczyk

Early Life and Amateur Career

Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. was born on August 16, 1966, and grew up in the Chicago suburbs of Niles and Palos Heights, Illinois. He attended Brother Rice Catholic High School and developed his hockey skills playing for local teams. As a youth, Olczyk competed in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 1978 and 1979 with a team from Chicago. He was a key player for the Illinois midget AAA team, Team Illinois, which captured the 1982 national title against a Detroit Compuware squad featuring future NHL stars Pat LaFontaine and Al Iafrate. To further his development, Olczyk moved to Canada to play junior hockey for the Stratford Cullitons before earning a spot on the 1984 United States Olympic hockey team, marking the beginning of his international career.

Professional Playing Career

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Eddie Olczyk with the third overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on October 11, 1984, against the Detroit Red Wings. From 1984 to 1987, he was part of Chicago's notable 'Clydesdale Line' with Troy Murray and Curt Fraser, a nickname referencing their size. Olczyk's career involved several trades, first to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987 in a multi-player deal. During the 1989-90 season with Toronto, he recorded an 18-game point streak, setting a record for the longest such streak by an American-born player, a mark later tied by Phil Kessel and eventually broken by Patrick Kane.

In 1990, Olczyk was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, where he played for two seasons before another trade sent him to the New York Rangers in 1992. Despite missing much of the 1993-94 season due to a thumb injury, he returned for one playoff game and was part of the Rangers' Stanley Cup championship team on June 14, 1994. He was traded back to Winnipeg during the next season and later signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings in 1996. After a brief stint in Los Angeles, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he finished his playing career before a final return to Chicago. Over 16 NHL seasons, Olczyk appeared in 1,031 regular season games, recording 342 goals and 452 assists for 794 points.

International Play and Coaching

Eddie Olczyk represented the United States in numerous international tournaments throughout his career. His international debut was at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, where the U.S. team finished in seventh place. He also competed in the Canada Cup in 1984 (fourth place), 1987 (fifth place), and 1991 (second place). Olczyk participated in the Ice Hockey World Championships five times, with the American team's best finish being fourth place in 1985. Following his playing career, Olczyk transitioned into coaching, becoming the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 11, 2003. His tenure lasted until December 15, 2005, when he was dismissed after the team started the season with an 8-17-6 record. Olczyk has stated in press reports that he believed his efforts to protect young players like Sidney Crosby from team hazing contributed to his dismissal.

Broadcasting Career and Awards

After his coaching stint, Eddie Olczyk moved full-time into broadcasting, where he has become one of hockey's most recognizable voices. He began as a colour commentator for the Pittsburgh Penguins on FSN Pittsburgh, earning the nickname 'Edzo' from announcer Mike Lange. Starting with the 2006-07 NHL season, he became the television colour commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks, partnering with play-by-play announcer Pat Foley for 16 seasons. Concurrently, Olczyk served as the lead colour commentator for NHL on NBC and its associated networks, covering major events including the Stanley Cup Final and the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. His excited call of a U.S. win over Canada in 2010, describing the game as 'tremendously tremendous,' became an instant hit among fans.

Olczyk's broadcasting excellence has been recognized with multiple awards. He received Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2012 for his on-camera work. In 2016, he was named the recipient of the Ring Lardner Award for exemplifying the wit and warmth of the famed writer. His contributions to hockey were also honoured with inductions into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In video games, he provided colour commentary for EA Sports' NHL series from NHL 15 through NHL 19 alongside Mike Emrick and Ray Ferraro.

• Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera: Programming' (2009).
• Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Achievement for Sports Programs' (2012).
• Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame (2012).
• Inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (2013).
• Recipient of the Ring Lardner Award (2016).
• Inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (2004).

Recent Broadcast Roles and Blackhawks Ambassadorship

Following the end of NHL on NBC in 2021, Eddie Olczyk joined TNT Sports as a lead analyst for their national NHL coverage. In August 2022, he also joined the Seattle Kraken's broadcast team on the Kraken Hockey Network as a television colour commentator. After four seasons with the Kraken, Olczyk left that role on July 28, 2026, citing personal reasons and a desire to focus on his national broadcasting duties with TNT. In this role, he participates in gameday events, community initiatives, and team content. He also works select Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) broadcasts as a studio analyst, with his initial schedule including four Saturday home games in the fall of 2026.

Olczyk maintains a unique presence across multiple sports broadcasting platforms. His deal with TNT allows him to continue his work with NBC Sports as a handicapper and analyst for major horse racing events like the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He was also welcomed to the TwinSpires horse racing platform as part of their team. In February 2026, Olczyk was preparing to work his fifth Olympic Games as a television analyst for NBC Sports, covering the men's hockey tournament in Milan. This career demonstrates his enduring versatility and prominence in sports media.

Personal Life and Health

Eddie Olczyk is married to his wife, Diana, and they have four children. Their three sons all pursued hockey careers. Nick Olczyk played for the Colorado College Tigers and became a television studio analyst for the Seattle Kraken in 2022. Tom Olczyk played hockey at Penn State and professionally for teams like the Indy Fuel and Rockford IceHogs. Eddie Olczyk III played a season in the SPHL, served as an assistant coach at Bemidji State, and works as an amateur scout for the Seattle Kraken. Their daughter, Zandra, attended the University of Alabama. Olczyk's younger brother, Rick Olczyk, is a former Brown University player who became an assistant general manager for the Seattle Kraken in 2019.

In August 2017, Olczyk publicly announced he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and underwent surgery to remove a tumour. His chemotherapy treatments limited his broadcasting schedule during the 2017-18 season, but by March 2018, he announced he was cancer-free. He detailed his experience in his 2019 autobiography, Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life. In June 2026, he appeared in a television episode titled 'Fight for Life with Tony Granato,' reflecting on his cancer journey. His public battle with the disease and his advocacy have been an important part of his public persona.

Career Statistics and Records

Eddie Olczyk's NHL career statistics reflect a durable and productive tenure as a top-six forward. His 1,031 games played place him among a select group of players to reach the 1,000-game milestone. His offensive totals of 794 points, comprised of 342 goals and 452 assists, demonstrate consistent scoring ability over 16 seasons. His most notable single-season achievement came during the 1989-90 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs when he recorded a point in 18 consecutive games. This set a new record for the longest point streak by an American-born player in NHL history, a record that stood for 25 years before being broken. The streak also remained a Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record, tied with Darryl Sittler, until Mitch Marner surpassed it in December 2022.

Questions about Eddie Olczyk

What teams did Eddie Olczyk play for in the NHL?

Eddie Olczyk played for six NHL teams over his 16-season career. He was drafted by and began his career with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was subsequently traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, then to the Winnipeg Jets, followed by the New York Rangers. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994, he was traded back to Winnipeg. He later played for the Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins before finishing his playing career with a second stint in Chicago.

What is Eddie Olczyk's connection to the Chicago Blackhawks?

Eddie Olczyk's connection to the Chicago Blackhawks is deep and varied. He was drafted third overall by the team in 1984 and played parts of five seasons with them across two stints. After his playing and coaching career, he served as the team's television colour commentator for 16 seasons from 2006 to 2022. In 2026, the Blackhawks named him a team ambassador, a role in which he participates in gameday events, community initiatives, and works as a studio analyst for select broadcasts on the Chicago Sports Network.

What health challenge did Eddie Olczyk face and overcome?

In August 2017, Eddie Olczyk was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He underwent a surgical procedure to remove a tumour and subsequently received chemotherapy treatments, which limited his broadcasting schedule for a season. By March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially cancer-free. He shared details of his fight in his 2019 autobiography, Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life, and has since been an advocate for cancer awareness.

Why did Eddie Olczyk leave the Seattle Kraken broadcast team?

Eddie Olczyk left the Seattle Kraken broadcast team on July 28, 2026 due to personal reasons. He decided to focus on his national broadcasting work with NHL on TNT and to spend more time with his family in Chicago. Olczyk had served as a television colour commentator for the Kraken Hockey Network for four seasons after joining the team in August 2022. His departure from the local broadcasts allowed him to concentrate on his lead analyst role for TNT's national NHL coverage, a position he agreed to in a multi year deal. This move marked a return to focusing solely on national sports media after his stint with the expansion franchise.

What is Eddie Olczyk's famous 'tremendously tremendous' quote from?

Eddie Olczyk's famous 'tremendously tremendous' quote originated from his broadcast commentary during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He made the statement after the United States men's ice hockey team secured a 5-3 victory over Canada, with American forward Ryan Kesler scoring an empty net goal to seal the win. The enthusiastic audio clip of Olczyk declaring 'This has been tremendously tremendous' instantly became popular among hockey enthusiasts. It was widely shared and became the subject of numerous online spoofs and memes. The quote remains one of his most recognized broadcasting moments from his extensive Olympic coverage work for NBC.

What national broadcasting work does Eddie Olczyk currently do?

Eddie Olczyk currently serves as the lead analyst for NHL on TNT, working alongside play by play announcer Kenny Albert. He also maintains a significant role with NBC Sports as a handicapper and analyst for their thoroughbred horse racing coverage, including major events like the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Olczyk works as a television analyst for Olympic hockey tournaments on NBC, with the 2026 Winter Games in Milan representing his fifth Olympics in that capacity. His agreement with TNT specifically allows him to continue his horse racing work with NBC, showing his unique dual role in national sports broadcasting across multiple networks.

Sources and further reading

• Eddie Olczyk (Wikipedia)
• NHL Tonight: Eddie Olczyk Interview (nhl.com)
• Eddie Olczyk Joins The Insider Show Ahead of The Winter ... (lakingsinsider.com)
• Eddie Olczyk Named Blackhawks Ambassador, CHSN ... (rg.org)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.