Ryan Smyth Players Page | Mr. Swaggas Sports Blog

Posted by Mr. Swagga in February 26th, 2009

Ryan Alexander Gordon Smyth (born February 21, 1976 in Banff, Alberta) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Smyth was selected 6th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, and he went on to play 12 seasons for the club he idolized as a child.

Playing career

Edmonton Oilers (1994–2007)

Smyth played 3 games for the Oilers in the 1994–95 season. The following season he tallied his first goal, on 24 November 1995 against Trevor Kidd of the Calgary Flames while on the power play. He has the distinction of breaking two of Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers records, scoring 20 goals on the power play in just his second full season, and scoring three goals in 2:01, breaking Gretzky’s club record (2:18) for the fastest hat trick by an Oiler on October 12, 2006. It was Smyth’s fifth career hat trick. Smyth was part of the Gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics. On 14 August 2003, Smyth managed to avoid arbitration with, and a possible trade from, the Oilers by signing a two-year contract.

Smyth was part of the 2005–06 Oiler team which advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Smyth showed his persistence in the presence of injury during the second-round series against the San Jose Sharks. However, the Oilers lost in game 7 of the finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Smyth had 7 goals and 9 assists in the 2006 Playoffs.

Smyth made his first All Star appearance at the 2007 All-Star game in Dallas.

New York Islanders (2007)

On February 27, 2007, last minute negotiations with Smyth’s agent Don Meehan failed, and after twelve years with the Oilers, Smyth was traded to the New York Islanders, in exchange for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O’Marra and the Islanders’ first round pick in the 2007 entry draft. That night happened to be Mark Messier’s jersey retirement night. On February 28, 2007, Smyth held an emotional news conference at the Edmonton International Airport. He thanked the Oilers organization, the fans and everyone involved for allowing him to play and live his career in Edmonton.

On March 1, 2007, Smyth notched his first point as an Islander, picking up an assist on Mike Sillinger’s first period powerplay goal. In 18 regular season games, Smyth posted 5 goals, 10 assists, and racked up 14 penalty minutes in helping the Islanders edge out the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens for the 8th and final 2006–07 Eastern Conference playoff berth. Smyth then put up 1 goal, 3 assists and 4 penalty minutes as the 8th seeded Islanders were eliminated in 5 games by the top-seeded Buffalo Sabres on April 20, 2007.

Colorado Avalanche (2007- )

On July 1, 2007, Smyth signed a 5 year, $31.2 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He only played in 55 games during the 2007-2008 NHL Season, recording 14 goals and 23 assists. He recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild in the first round but were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings in round 2.

Smyth scored his 300th career goal alongside Milan Hejduk on January 18th against the Calgary Flames in a 6-2 victory at the Pepsi Center.