Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Kraken booth as Lane Lambert's team prepares for a major change behind the microphone.
The longtime analyst is stepping away from Seattle's local broadcasts after four seasons, ending his run alongside John Forslund and J.T. Brown.
Olczyk isn't retiring. He'll remain Turner Sports' top NHL analyst, keeping him on national broadcasts and major playoff assignments.
The decision was driven by family, travel and a schedule that had become difficult to maintain. Olczyk worked 65 national television games last season while handling Kraken and radio duties.
“I've done the same schedule for the last 20 years,” Olczyk said. “It just comes to a point where you have to make a decision.”
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With his 60th birthday arriving August 16, Olczyk wants to spend more time at his Chicago-area home with his wife, Diana, their children and four grandchildren.
Eddie Olczyk puts his family first
“It's been in the making, and I just thought this was the time that I wanted to be home more,” he said.
Olczyk had been commuting between Chicago and Seattle while crossing the country for national assignments. That workload left little room for a normal home life.
“Everything has revolved around my hockey career since 1988 when I got married to my wife,” Olczyk said. “Everything has been centered around my schedule. Well, that's changing. And now's the time.”
His Seattle connection went far beyond the booth. His brother Ricky works in the Kraken front office, while his son Eddie is an amateur scout for the organization.
“It's all been about family and relationships,” Olczyk said.
Forslund and Brown will now form Seattle's regular two-man broadcast team. They already worked together frequently when Olczyk's national schedule limited him to 21 Kraken games last season.
Olczyk's voice will still be heard across the NHL's biggest stages. But after decades of arranging family life around hockey, he has chosen to bring his schedule back under control.
“But it's time now,” Olczyk said. “And home is where I want to be.”
Did Eddie Olczyk make the right decision by leaving Kraken broadcasts for more family time?
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