Olczyk leaving Kraken broadcasts after 4 seasons

Eddie Olczyk is stepping down from his role as a color analyst for Seattle Kraken television broadcasts after four seasons. The veteran hockey figure joined the team in September 2022 and quickly became a fixture in the booth alongside play-by-play announcer John Forslund and analyst J.T. Brown.

Olczyk will maintain his position as a lead analyst for Turner Sports. He took on a significant national workload last season, covering 65 games including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and national radio broadcasts. Balancing these national duties with local team coverage has been a standard part of his professional life for two decades.

As he approaches his 60th birthday this August, Olczyk reached the decision that it is time to prioritize his home life in the Chicago area. He noted that his career path has dictated his schedule since 1988, and he intends to move away from the travel demands associated with a local broadcast role to spend more time with his wife, Diana.

His time in Seattle allowed him to connect with family, as his son Nick previously worked on Kraken broadcasts and his other son, Eddie, serves as an amateur scout for the organization. His brother, Ricky, also holds an assistant general manager position with the team. While he valued these connections, the decision reflects a clear shift toward personal priorities after a long, intense career.