Ryan Smyth

Ryan Alexander Borden Smyth (born February 21, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played most of his career for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He was especially known for playing in the style of a power forward.

With 20 power play goals, he tied Wayne Gretzky's team record, set in 1983–84.

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.

During his junior career, Ryan Smyth spent three years with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL), scoring 105 points during the 1993–94 season.

In 1993–94, he improved to 50 goals and 105 points over 72 games, becoming a top NHL prospect.

Smyth was then drafted 6th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

That year he played only three games for the Oilers, as he stayed for the majority of the year in Moose Jaw.

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.

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.

He has won gold medals at the 1995 World Junior Championship, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2003 and 2004 World Championships, and 2004 World Cup.

He made his debut on January 22, 1995, in an away game against the Los Angeles Kings.

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.

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.

Having served as captain of Canada's World Championship team for a team record six years (2001–05 and 2010), he has earned the nickname "Captain Canada."

Smyth is also Canada's all-time leader in games played at the tournament.

He played a record 90 games for Hockey Canada while becoming the only player in hockey history to win gold in all of Olympics, World Cup, World Championships, World Juniors, and Spengler Cup.

He spent 12 seasons with Edmonton before being traded to the New York Islanders in 2007 due to failed contract negotiations.

Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the subsequent off-season, he signed a five-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

After two seasons with the team, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in July 2009.

On June 26, 2011, he was re-acquired by the Edmonton Oilers for Colin Fraser and a seventh round pick in 2012.

He announced his retirement on April 11, 2014, after 19 seasons in the NHL.

Smyth has represented Canada in international competition on numerous occasions.

Smyth had his number 28 retired by the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2015.

During his final junior season, Smyth was briefly called up to the NHL by the Oilers.

He has been one of the owners of the BCHL Spruce Grove Saints since 2017.

He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020.

Smyth played in the junior ranks with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL).