Ryan Smyth

Smyth played in the junior ranks with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Beginning in 1991–92, he debuted in two games with the team, recording no points. The following season, he notched 19 goals and 33 points over 64 games as a rookie. In 1993–94, he improved to 50 goals and 105 points over 72 games, becoming a top NHL prospect. During the subsequent off-season, he was selected sixth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Some Oilers' scouts wanted to draft Ethan Moreau (future Oilers captain), in part because he was a linemate of the Oilers' fourth overall selection, Jason Bonsignore (who only ended up playing 79 NHL games, 21 of those with the Oilers). Sather, however, went with the opinion of scout Lorne Davis and selected Smyth instead.[3]

Following his selection, Smyth returned to the WHL for one more season with Moose Jaw, recording 41 goals and 86 points over 50 games in 1994–95. He helped the Warriors qualify for the playoffs for the first time in his tenure with the team and added 15 points over 10 post-season games. Smyth had his number 28 retired by the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2015.[4]

Smyth participating in Wayne Babych's charity All-Star Game in 2005

During his final junior season, Smyth was briefly called up to the NHL by the Oilers. He made his debut on January 22, 1995, in an away game against the Los Angeles Kings.[5] Playing in three games total, he did not record any points. The following season, he tallied his first goal, on November 24, 1995, against Trevor Kidd of the Calgary Flames while on the power play. He went on to record two goals and 11 points over 48 games as a rookie, while also spending time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Oilers' minor league affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers. He recorded 11 points over 9 AHL games in 1995–96.

Smyth spent the entire 1996–97 season with the Oilers and improved to 39 goals (a career-high) and 61 points over 82 games. At the beginning of the season, on October 8, 1996, he recorded his first of five career hat tricks. With 20 power play goals, he tied Wayne Gretzky's team record, set in 1983–84.[6] In the 1997 playoffs, he added 10 points in 12 games. Despite a strong second NHL season, he struggled in the next two campaigns with 33- and 31-point efforts. In 1999–2000, he returned to form with a 28-goal, 54-point year. The following season, he recorded a career-high 39 assists and 70 points, ranking second in team scoring to team captain and first-line centre Doug Weight.[7]

As Weight was traded in the off-season to the St. Louis Blues, Smyth took on a larger role as offensive leader on the team. For the remainder of his tenure with the Oilers, he remained in the 50–60 point range. During the 2001–02 season, he ranked third in team scoring with 15 goals and 50 points to Mike Comrie and Anson Carter's 60 points, despite playing in 21 games less than them due to injury. The following season, he appeared in 66 games and increased his offensive totals to 27 goals and 61 points. It marked the first time in his career that he led the Oilers in scoring, edging Todd Marchant by one point.[8] During the off-season, Smyth filed for salary arbitration after initially failing to come to terms on a new contract with the Oilers. On August 14, 2003, both sides avoided arbitration by signing a two-year contract.

Playing a full 82 games in 2003–04, Smyth tallied 59 points (23 goals and 36 assists) to lead the Oilers in scoring for the second straight year.[9] Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Smyth spent the season inactive. As NHL play resumed the next year, he approached career-high totals with 36 goals and 66 points. With several young players emerging on the team's roster, Smyth ranked fourth in team scoring, behind Aleš Hemský, Shawn Horcoff and Jarret Stoll.[10] His 19 power play goals came within one of the team record he previously set in his second year with the Oilers.[6] Although Edmonton entered the 2006 playoffs as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference, Smyth helped the team on a run to the Stanley Cup Finals with 16 points in 24 post-season games. During the second round against the San Jose Sharks, he was hit in the mouth with a puck as a result of a clearing attempt from defensive teammate Chris Pronger. After losing three teeth and needing stitches, Smyth returned in the third period and went on to set up Shawn Horcoff's game-winning goal in triple-overtime.[11] The win reduced San Jose's series lead to 2–1, helping the Oilers eventually advance to the Conference Finals in six games. After eliminating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the third round, the Oilers were ultimately defeated in seven games by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Finals. Had the Oilers won the Stanley Cup, Smyth would have joined the Triple Gold Club along with Chris Pronger and Jaroslav Špaček.

Early the following season, during a game against the San Jose Sharks on October 12, 2006, Smyth broke an Oilers record for fastest three goals scored in one contest. With the Sharks leading 4–2 in the third period, he recorded a hat trick with two goals on the power play and one more on a 5-on-5 [12] in a span of two minutes and one second, breaking the previous team record set by Wayne Gretzky on February 18, 1981, by 17 seconds. It was Smyth's fifth career hat trick as Edmonton went on to win the game 6–4.[13] In the final year of his contract, Smyth was enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career. As a result, he was chosen to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2007. With the Oilers unable to extend his contract prior to the NHL trade deadline, Smyth was dealt away to the New York Islanders in exchange for prospects Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra, as well as a first round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. It was reported that Smyth was asking for a long-term deal worth at least $5 million a season to remain in Edmonton. The move was made to ensure the team did not lose Smyth for nothing, as he became an unrestricted free agent in the off-season.[14] At the time of the trade, he was scoring at a point-per-game pace with 31 goals and 22 assists over 53 games.

Despite playing the remainder of the season with the Islanders, he finished tied for the Oilers lead in point-scoring that year; Petr Sýkora had 53 points in a full 82 games.[15] Prior to boarding a flight for New York with his family, Smyth tearfully addressed the media at Edmonton International Airport, thanking the Oilers for his time with the organization and expressing regret for having to be traded.[14] He stated he was going to win the Stanley Cup with the Islanders and bring it to Edmonton. Leaving the Oilers after 12 seasons, he ranked seventh on the team's all-time list for points scored with 549 over 770 games.[16]

Smyth debuted with the Islanders on March 1, 2007, during a game against the St. Louis Blues. He notched his first point as an Islander with an assist on Mike Sillinger's first period power play goal; New York lost the game 3–2 in overtime.[17] Two days later, he recorded his first goal as an Islander in a 6–2 win against the Washington Capitals.[18] Playing in 18 games with the Islanders to close out the 2006–07 season, Smyth posted 15 points (5 goals and 10 assists). Combined with his stats from Edmonton, he finished with 36 goals and 68 points, the second-highest totals of his career. Smyth's efforts helped the Islanders beat out the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens for the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2007 playoffs.[19] Playing the first-seeded Buffalo Sabres in the opening round, the Islanders were defeated in five games. Smyth recorded one goal and three assists during the series.

Smyth with the Avalanche

Becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2007, Smyth signed a five-year, $31.2 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[20] After debuting with the Avalanche on October 3, 2007, in a 4–3 win against the Dallas Stars,[21] he scored his first goal with his new team four days later. Beating goaltender Evgeni Nabokov short handed during the third period, he helped Colorado to a 6–2 win.[22] Playing on the first line, Smyth found early chemistry with centre and team captain Joe Sakic.[23] The duo was interrupted, however, as both players were sidelined with injuries for large portions of the season – Smyth's included neck, ankle and head ailments.[24] Limited to 55 games, he recorded 14 goals and 37 points, the lowest totals of his career since the 1998–99 season. During the 2008 playoffs, Smyth helped Colorado advance past the Minnesota Wild in the first round. They were, however, swept the following round by the Detroit Red Wings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Smyth missed the last two games of the playoffs with a foot injury, finishing with two goals and five points over eight games.

Smyth bounced back from an injury-filled first year with the Avalanche by remaining healthy for the majority of the 2008–09 season. During the campaign, Ryan Smyth and right winger Milan Hejduk scored their respective 300th career goals on January 18, 2009, against the Calgary Flames in a 6–2 victory at the Pepsi Center.[25] He went on to record 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points over 77 games, before fracturing his right hand on April 1, 2009, in a 3–0 home loss against the Phoenix Coyotes, ending his season five games early.[26] He tied for the team lead in point-scoring with Hejduk, who played in five more games than Smyth.[27] Dealing with long-term injuries to both Paul Stastny and captain Joe Sakic, the Avalanche struggled as a team and finished last in the Western Conference.[28]

With the Avalanche in the midst of a rebuilding process, Smyth was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on July 3, 2009, in exchange for Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[24] During his Kings debut on October 3, 2009, he assisted on the team's first goal of the season by Anže Kopitar. The Kings, however, lost the game 6–3 to the Phoenix Coyotes.[29] His first goal with the Kings came five days later, scoring against Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding in a 6–3 win.[30] Playing regularly on a line with Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown, he recorded 22 goals and 53 points over 67 games, ranking fourth in team scoring.[31] Joining a team on a markedly different trajectory than Colorado, the Kings were an improving club. Smyth's efforts helped them qualify for the playoffs for the first time since eight years. Playing the third-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the first round, they were defeated in six games.

A month into the 2010–11 season, Smyth played his 1,000th career NHL game on November 6, 2010. His teammates acknowledged the accomplishment by wearing mullet wigs during their morning skate, alluding to Smyth's distinctive hair style. The Kings won the game 4–1 over the Nashville Predators, with Smyth scoring a goal in the second period.[32] Playing in a full 82 games, Smyth finished the season with 23 goals and 47 points. The Kings qualified for the playoffs with the seventh seed and were eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.

During the off-season, it was reported that Smyth had informed Kings management he would prefer to play the last year of his contract with the Oilers.[33]

On June 24, 2011, the day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, it was reported that the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings had come to an agreement that Smyth would go to Edmonton in return for Gilbert Brulé and a fourth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Upon salary cap and injury concerns, the trade never went through due to the Kings' plan to buy-out Brulé's contract; however, the NHL prohibits team from buying out injured players. Smyth wanted to leave the Kings and return to the Oilers, as he wanted to end his career where he started it.[34][35] On June 26, 2011, the Kings officially traded Smyth back to Edmonton for Colin Fraser and a seventh round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[36]

In 2011–12, his first season back with the Oilers, Smyth was the only Oiler to play all 82 games, and was fifth in scoring with 46 points. On February 27, 2012, he recorded his 800th career point, an assist, against the Winnipeg Jets.[37]

On January 26, 2014, Smyth tied Wayne Gretzky for number two on the Oilers all-time power play goal-scoring list in a 5–1 win over the Nashville Predators. On March 6, he overtook Gretzky and tied Glenn Anderson for the most power-play goals in franchise history with 126.[38]

With the Oilers out of playoff position towards the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, on April 11, Smyth announced his retirement after 19 seasons from the National Hockey League aged 38.[39] He served as the team captain in his final game and also received the game's first star honours.[40]

Following his retirement from NHL play, Ryan Smyth played in the Alberta senior AAA men's hockey league. On March 11, 2017, in Game 1 of the league finals, Smyth was struck with a blindside hit after scoring a goal by minor leaguer Kyle Sheen. Smyth stayed down for several minutes and was diagnosed with a concussion. Sheen received no penalty on the play but was suspended 16 games by the league following a video review.