Josh Olson was born July 13, 1981 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The sixth choice, 82nd overall selection of the Florida Panthers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Olson is a graduate of the USHL.
After one season in the USHL with Fargo and Omaha, Olson joined the WHLs Portland Winterhawks in 2000-01. The Grand Forks, ND native went on to play two seasons in the WHL before making his professional debut with the AHLs Utah Grizzlies in the latter stages of the 2001-02 season.
Coming off an 88 point season with Portland, Olson split the 2002-03 season with the AHLs San Antonio Rampage and the ECHLs Jackson Bandits. After struggling to find the back of the net in his first season, Olson broke out with 22 goals in 2003-04 and impressed the Panther brass enough to see action in five games throughout the season.
