Ed Olczyk is a former professional ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played as a center and right winger for several teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Olczyk was born on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing hockey at a young age and quickly showed promise as a skilled player. He played for the Chicago Young Americans and the Chicago Mission before joining the Stratford Cullitons of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in 1982.
In 1984, Olczyk was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1984-85 season and quickly established himself as a valuable player for the Blackhawks. He played for the team for three seasons before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987.
Olczyk played for the Maple Leafs for two seasons before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in 1989. He played for the Jets for one season before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1990. He played for the Rangers for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1992.
Olczyk played for the Kings for one season before being traded back to the Winnipeg Jets in 1993. He played for the Jets for one season before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1994. He played for the Penguins for three seasons and was a key player on the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1996.
After his time with the Penguins, Olczyk played for the Chicago Blackhawks again for one season before retiring from professional hockey in 2000. He finished his NHL career with 342 goals and 452 assists in 1,031 games played.
After retiring from playing, Olczyk became a television analyst for NHL games. He worked for several networks, including ESPN, NBC, and Versus. He also served as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins for one season in 2003-04.
In addition to his hockey career, Olczyk is also known for his work as an advocate for cancer research. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017 and underwent treatment before being declared cancer-free in 2018. He has since become a spokesperson for cancer awareness and has raised funds for cancer research through his foundation, Eddie Olczyk Award.
Overall, Ed Olczyk had a successful career as a professional hockey player, playing for several teams and earning numerous accolades. He is also known for his work as a television analyst and his advocacy for cancer research.
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