A colleague called the other day, raving about Eddie Olczyk as an analyst.
“He’s the best,” the colleague said. “He’s so quick. It’s amazing how he sees everything on the ice.”
Agreed.
NBC is thrilled to have Olczyk as its lead analyst on hockey, and his work on local Blackhawks telecasts is making him an icon in Chicago.
Yet the time might be coming where Olczyk gives up what he describes as “the best job in the world.”
Olczyk clearly has a bad taste from his only previous NHL stint behind the bench. He was fired in Dec., 2005 after a season-plus as head coach with Pittsburgh.
Now 46, Olczyk sounds as if the itch is intensifying to return as a coach or as a front office executive at some level. It might not happen next year, but to hear him talk, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he jumped back in sooner than later.
Olczyk repeatedly used the phrase “unfinished business” when the subject of his future came up during an interview.
“I’m a hockey guy,” Olczyk said. “There’s the unfinished business with the way I left Pittsburgh that’s always going to be there. Whether the opportunity presents itself remains to be seen. It’s always going to an enticing thought. It’s always going to be a stone I’m looking under.”
Olczyk noted that his family situation is changing. He has two boys playing college hockey, and a 16-year-old son who plays junior hockey and could be out of the house soon. Olczyk serves as an assistant coach for his son’s junior team when time allows.
“The stars would have to be aligned family-wise and professionally,” Olczyk said. “It may not occur. I am very content where I am. I take great pride in what I do. But there is that so-called unfinished business. When you get knocked down, you want to get back up and get at it again.”
It will be a tough call for Olczyk, considering what is coming up on the broadcast side. The Hawks are exploding in Chicago; he is part of a NBC/NBC Sports Network team (with Mike Emrick and Pierre McGuire) that is considered one of the best in sports; and he is set to work another Olympics for NBC in 2014.
Yet the pull of being part of the action again might trump all.
“When you’ve been involved in it, it’s always in you that you want to do it again,” Olczyk said.
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More from my interview with Olczyk:
On shortened season: Considering where we were six months ago, where you didn’t know if you would have a season, you couldn’t ask for a better Final. I use a phrase I used during the 2010 Olympics. It’s tremendously tremendous. It’s a win-win for everyone, except for the team that loses.
On the rise of the Blackhawks: As a kid, it was hockey, really? Now I couldn’t be prouder that hockey is front and center in our town. To me, a good indicator is that people are planning their day around the puck drop. For many years, it wasn’t like that.
On not winning a Stanley Cup for Blackhawks as a player: We lost to Edmonton in the conference finals (in 84-85) season. It’s still the record for the most goals in a six-game series. Edmonton may give up five goals, but they knew they could score eight.
Obviously, I’m disappointed we couldn’t win. I always dreamed of holding the Cup at home. I lived and died as a Blackhawks fan. To have not won it as a player was very disappointing.
On his place in the organization: This organization lives and breathes hockey 24/7. Everyone involved deserves the credit. To be part of the organization is very important to me. I know where I am on the totem pole. In the big picture, it’s very small. I do take pride that we’ve been able to teach the game and help sell the brand.