1. Overview
Ryan Alexander Borden Smyth, born on February 21, 1976, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent the majority of his distinguished career as a left wing for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known for his tenacious power forward style, Smyth was recognized for his physical play, net-front presence, and exceptional work ethic. Beyond his professional club career, he extensively represented Canada in international competitions, earning the cherished nickname "Captain Canada" due to his frequent leadership roles. His career spanned 19 seasons in the NHL, during which he played 1,270 games, recording 386 goals and 456 assists. Smyth is notably the only player in hockey history to have won gold medals in all major international tournaments, including the Olympic Games, World Championship, World Junior Championship, World Cup of Hockey, and Spengler Cup. His lasting impact on the sport was formally recognized with his induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024.
2. Early life and junior career
Smyth began his journey in ice hockey during his formative years, eventually joining the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for his junior career. He debuted with the Warriors in the 1991-92 WHL season, playing two games without recording any points. The following season, in 1992-93 WHL season, he began to develop his offensive game, scoring 19 goals and 33 points over 64 games as a rookie.
His breakthrough season came in 1993-94 WHL season, when he significantly improved to score 50 goals and 105 points in 72 games, establishing himself as a promising prospect for the NHL. His strong performance led to him being drafted sixth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. While some Oilers scouts, including Darryl Davis, initially considered drafting Ethan Moreau-a future Oilers captain-due to his chemistry with the team's fourth overall selection, Jason Bonsignore, General Manager Glen Sather ultimately followed scout Lorne Davis's recommendation and selected Smyth instead.
Following his draft, Smyth returned to the WHL for one final season with Moose Jaw in 1994-95 WHL season, where he continued to impress with 41 goals and 86 points over 50 games. During this season, he helped the Warriors qualify for the playoffs for the first time in his tenure, contributing 15 points in 10 post-season games. In recognition of his significant contributions to the team, the Moose Jaw Warriors retired his number 28 jersey in 2015.
3. Professional playing career
Ryan Smyth's professional career was largely defined by his extensive tenure with the Edmonton Oilers, although he also played for the New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings. His career showcased his consistency as a reliable power forward and his unwavering dedication to his teams.
3.1. Edmonton Oilers (First stint)
Smyth's journey in the NHL began with a brief call-up by the Edmonton Oilers during his final junior season in 1994-95 NHL season. He made his NHL debut on January 22, 1995, in an away game against the Los Angeles Kings, playing in three games without recording any points. In the following season, 1995-96 NHL season, he scored his first NHL goal on November 24, 1995, against Trevor Kidd of the Calgary Flames during a power play. As a rookie, he recorded 2 goals and 11 points over 48 games, while also spending time with the Oilers' minor league affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he notched 11 points in 9 games.
In the 1996-97 NHL season, Smyth established himself as a full-time Oiler, achieving a career-high of 39 goals and 61 points in 82 games. Early in the season, on October 8, 1996, he recorded the first of his five career hat tricks. His 20 power-play goals that season tied Wayne Gretzky's team record set in 1983-84 NHL season. In the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs, he continued to produce, adding 10 points in 12 games. Despite his strong performance, he faced a dip in production in the next two seasons, recording 33 and 31 points respectively. However, in 1999-2000 NHL season, he rebounded with 28 goals and 54 points. The following season, 2000-01 NHL season, he set career-highs with 39 assists and 70 points, placing second in team scoring behind captain Doug Weight.
After Weight was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the off-season, Smyth took on a larger role as an offensive leader for the Oilers. For the remainder of his initial tenure with the team, he consistently produced between 50 and 60 points per season. In the 2001-02 NHL season, despite playing 21 fewer games due to injury, he ranked third in team scoring with 15 goals and 50 points. The 2002-03 NHL season saw him appear in 66 games, increasing his totals to 27 goals and 61 points, marking the first time he led the Oilers in scoring, just edging out Todd Marchant by one point. During the subsequent off-season, Smyth filed for salary arbitration before ultimately signing a two-year contract with the Oilers on August 14, 2003, avoiding arbitration.
Playing a full 82 games in the 2003-04 NHL season, Smyth tallied 59 points (23 goals and 36 assists), leading the Oilers in scoring for the second consecutive year. During this season, he also served as the Oilers' captain for several games while regular captain Jason Smith was sidelined with an ankle injury. The 2004-05 NHL lockout meant Smyth spent the entire season inactive. When NHL play resumed in 2005-06 NHL season, he approached career-high totals with 36 goals and 66 points. With several young players emerging, Smyth ranked fourth in team scoring. His 19 power-play goals were just one shy of his own team record.
Edmonton entered the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Smyth played a crucial role in the team's improbable run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, contributing 16 points in 24 post-season games. In the second round against the San Jose Sharks, he suffered a severe injury when hit in the mouth by a puck, losing three teeth and requiring stitches. Remarkably, Smyth returned in the third period of that game and went on to set up Shawn Horcoff's game-winning goal in triple-overtime. This critical win helped the Oilers advance, and after eliminating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the third round, they 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 prestigious Triple Gold Club.
Early in the 2006-07 NHL season, on October 12, 2006, Smyth set an Oilers record for the fastest three goals scored in one game. With the Sharks leading 4-2 in the third period, he completed a hat trick-his fifth career hat trick-with two power-play goals and one 5-on-5 goal in just 2 minutes and 1 second, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's previous team record by 17 seconds. The Oilers went on to win the game 6-4. In the final year of his contract, Smyth was having one of his most productive seasons, which led to his selection for his first 2007 NHL All-Star Game. However, the Oilers were unable to extend his contract before the NHL trade deadline, reportedly due to Smyth seeking a long-term deal worth at least 5.00 M USD per season. To avoid losing him as an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, Smyth was traded to the New York Islanders on February 27, 2007, in exchange for prospects Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra, along with a first-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. 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 finishing the season with the Islanders, he still ended up tied for the Oilers' lead in point-scoring that year, sharing the distinction with Petr Sýkora, who played a full 82 games. Before leaving for New York, Smyth tearfully addressed the media at Edmonton International Airport, expressing gratitude to the Oilers organization and regret over the trade, even stating his intent to win the Stanley Cup with the Islanders and bring it back to Edmonton. After 12 seasons with the Oilers, he ranked seventh on the team's all-time points list, with 549 points over 770 games.
3.2. New York Islanders
Ryan Smyth debuted with the New York Islanders on March 1, 2007, in a game against the St. Louis Blues. He recorded his first point as an Islander with an assist on Mike Sillinger's first-period power-play goal, though New York ultimately lost the game 3-2 in overtime. Two days later, he scored his first goal as an Islander in a decisive 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Smyth played in 18 games with the Islanders to conclude the 2006-07 NHL season, during which he posted 15 points, consisting of 5 goals and 10 assists. When combined with his statistics from his time with the Oilers, he finished the season with 36 goals and 68 points, marking the second-highest totals of his career. His contributions were instrumental in helping the Islanders secure the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference for the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, narrowly surpassing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. Facing the top-seeded Buffalo Sabres in the opening round, the Islanders were defeated in five games. Smyth recorded one goal and three assists during the series.
3.3. Colorado Avalanche
On July 1, 2007, after becoming an unrestricted free agent, Ryan Smyth signed a five-year contract worth 31.20 M USD with the Colorado Avalanche. His debut with the Avalanche came on October 3, 2007, in a 4-3 victory against the Dallas Stars. Four days later, he scored his first goal for his new team, a short-handed goal against goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, contributing to Colorado's 6-2 win over the Sharks.
Initially, Smyth found strong chemistry playing on the first line alongside center and team captain Joe Sakic. However, their partnership was frequently interrupted as both players were sidelined for significant portions of the season due to various injuries; Smyth's ailments included neck, ankle, and head issues. These injuries limited him to just 55 games, where he recorded 14 goals and 37 points, his lowest totals since the 1998-99 NHL season. In the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, Smyth helped Colorado advance past the Minnesota Wild in the first round. However, they were subsequently swept in the following round by the Detroit Red Wings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Smyth missed the final two playoff games due to a foot injury, concluding the post-season with two goals and five points over eight games.
Smyth bounced back from his injury-plagued first year with the Avalanche by remaining largely healthy for the majority of the 2008-09 NHL season. On January 18, 2009, both Ryan Smyth and right winger Milan Hejduk scored their respective 300th career goals in a 6-2 victory against the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center. Smyth ultimately recorded 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 to the Phoenix Coyotes, which prematurely ended his season. He finished tied with Hejduk for the team lead in point-scoring, despite playing five fewer games. Dealing with long-term injuries to key players like Paul Stastny and captain Joe Sakic, the Avalanche struggled as a team, finishing last in the Western Conference.
3.4. Los Angeles Kings
With the Colorado Avalanche undergoing a rebuilding phase, Ryan 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. In his Kings debut on October 3, 2009, he assisted on the team's first goal of the season, scored by Anže Kopitar, although the Kings lost the game 6-3 to the Phoenix Coyotes. His first goal with the Kings came five days later, scoring against Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding in a 6-3 victory.
Playing regularly on a line with Jarret Stoll and Dustin Brown, Smyth recorded 22 goals and 53 points over 67 games, ranking fourth in team scoring. Joining a team that was on a much different trajectory than the Avalanche, the Kings were an improving club. Smyth's contributions were instrumental in helping them qualify for the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Facing the third-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the first round, the Kings were defeated in six games.
A month into the 2010-11 NHL season, Smyth played his 1,000th career NHL game on November 6, 2010. His teammates honored the milestone by wearing mullet wigs during their morning skate, a playful nod to Smyth's distinctive hairstyle. The Kings won the game 4-1 over the Nashville Predators, with Smyth scoring a goal in the second period. He played a full 82 games that season, finishing with 23 goals and 47 points. The Kings qualified for the playoffs as the seventh seed but were eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks.
During the off-season, it was reported that Smyth had informed Kings management of his preference to play the final year of his contract with the Oilers.
3.5. Edmonton Oilers (Second stint) and retirement
On June 24, 2011, the day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, reports emerged that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings had reached an agreement for Smyth to return to Edmonton in exchange for Gilbert Brulé and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 draft. However, this trade did not materialize due to salary cap and injury concerns, as the Kings' plan to buy out Brulé's contract was prohibited by NHL rules concerning injured players. Smyth remained steadfast in his desire to leave the Kings and return to the Oilers, wishing to conclude his career where it began. Ultimately, on June 26, 2011, the Kings officially traded Smyth back to Edmonton in exchange for Colin Fraser and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
In the 2011-12 NHL season, his first season back with the Oilers, Smyth was the only player on the team to participate in all 82 games, finishing fifth in scoring with 46 points. On February 27, 2012, he recorded his 800th career point, an assist, in a game against the Winnipeg Jets.
On January 26, 2014, during a 5-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, Smyth tied Wayne Gretzky for second place on the Oilers' all-time power-play goal-scoring list. Just over a month later, on March 6, he surpassed Gretzky and tied Glenn Anderson for the most power-play goals in franchise history, reaching 126.
As the Oilers were out of playoff contention towards the conclusion of the 2013-14 NHL season, Ryan Smyth announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on April 11, 2014, after 19 seasons. For his final game, he served as the team captain and was also recognized as the game's first star. In a heartfelt tribute, the ring at Rexall Place, which traditionally read "WELCOME TO OIL COUNTRY," was changed to display "THANK YOU SMYTTY."
4. International career
Ryan Smyth had an extensive and decorated career representing Canada in international ice hockey competitions, earning him the moniker "Captain Canada" for his leadership. He is the only player in hockey history to have won gold medals in all five major international tournaments recognized by the IIHF: the Olympic Games, World Championship, World Junior Championship, World Cup of Hockey, and Spengler Cup.
Smyth first debuted with Hockey Canada as part of the country's under-20 team at the 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Red Deer, Alberta. He contributed 2 goals and 7 points, helping Canada go undefeated in seven games to secure the gold medal. Four years later, Smyth was selected for Canada's men's team for the 1999 IIHF World Championship in Norway. Due to the Edmonton Oilers' playoff schedules, Smyth became a consistent presence on Canada's World Championship roster. The 1999 tournament marked the first of his seven consecutive appearances. He recorded two assists over nine games as Canada finished in fourth place, losing the bronze medal game to Sweden.
The following year, at the 2000 IIHF World Championship in Russia, Smyth improved his international performance with a career-high of 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points over nine games. Canada again finished fourth, losing the bronze medal game to Finland. In preparation for the 2001 IIHF World Championship in Germany, Smyth was named team captain for Canada. This marked the first of six times he would serve in that role at the World Championships, cementing his nickname "Captain Canada." He recorded 2 goals and 5 points over seven games, but Canada faced an early exit, eliminated by the United States in the quarter-final.
In December 2001, Smyth was selected to Canada's team for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was a significant milestone, as it was the first time he was chosen for a national team where all NHL players were available, as the league temporarily suspended play during the 2001-02 NHL season for the Olympics. Smyth contributed one assist in six games, helping Canada win their first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey since 1952, and his first gold medal at the men's level. Later that year, he made his fourth consecutive appearance at the World Championship in Sweden, where Canada was once again eliminated in the quarter-final, this time by Slovakia. Smyth recorded 4 goals and no assists over seven games.
After four years without a medal in World Championship competition, Smyth captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2003 IIHF World Championship in Finland. He recorded 2 goals and 4 points over nine games, en route to a 3-2 victory over Sweden in the final. Canada successfully defended their gold medal in the following year in the Czech Republic. In a rematch of the previous year's final, Canada defeated Sweden 5-3. Smyth contributed 2 goals and 4 points in nine tournament games.
In September 2004, the NHL and NHL Players Association held the first 2004 World Cup of Hockey in eight years. All players were eligible to participate, as the event was held outside the NHL schedule (though league play was suspended for the 2004-05 season due to a lockout). Smyth was named to the national team and contributed 3 goals and 1 assist over six games. Canada won the World Cup title with a victory over Finland in the final. The following year, all NHL players were again available for international competition at the 2005 IIHF World Championship in Austria, due to the ongoing lockout. This marked the first time this was the case in the tournament's history. Smyth retained his captaincy and helped Canada reach the gold medal game for the third straight year, but they were shut out 3-0 by the Czech Republic, earning the silver medal.
In December 2005, he was named to Canada's Olympic team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. However, Canada failed to defend their 2002 gold medal and were eliminated in the quarter-final by Russia. Smyth was limited to one assist in six games. He was also selected for the 2010 Winter Olympics summer roster for Team Canada in August 2009, but did not make the final roster cut.
The 2010 IIHF World Championship tournament in Germany marked Smyth's last appearance for Canada, where he was named team captain for a record sixth time at the tournament. Early in the tournament, he suffered an ankle injury during practice, which kept him from the remainder of the competition. Canada subsequently lost the quarter-final to Russia that year. In 2012, he won the Spengler Cup playing for Canada, once again serving as the team's captain.
5. Playing style
Ryan Smyth played with the distinctive style of a power forward, relying significantly on his size and strength to contribute offensively. He was particularly effective by positioning himself directly in front of the opponent's net, where he scored the majority of his goals by tipping pucks past the goaltender or capitalizing on rebounds. While celebrated for his physical play and net-front presence, Smyth was not primarily known for exceptional shooting, stickhandling, or skating skills. He notably used a two-piece stick, consisting of a composite shaft with a wooden blade, and often a flat blade, which were trends that largely became outdated during or before his career.
When the Edmonton Oilers drafted him out of junior hockey, Darryl Davis, the son of scout Lorne Davis, remarked that General Manager Glen Sather was specifically seeking a player with "lots of guts," a quality Smyth consistently demonstrated. Beyond his on-ice performance, Smyth was widely recognized as a leader. This was evident through his tenure as captain for Canada's World Championship teams on a record six occasions. In addition to his national team captaincy, he served as an alternate captain on nearly all the teams he played for in the NHL, with the exception of his brief stint with the New York Islanders.
6. Personal life
Ryan Smyth is married and has four children. His wife owns a clothing store named "Four." Ryan's older brother, Kevin Smyth, also played professional ice hockey, appearing in 58 NHL games for the Hartford Whalers. Since 2017, Ryan Smyth has been one of the owners of the BCHL Spruce Grove Saints.
7. Legacy and honors
Ryan Smyth's career was marked by numerous achievements and recognitions for his contributions to ice hockey at both professional and international levels.
His honors and achievements include:
- Selected to the 1994-95 WHL East Second All-Star Team.
- Chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game during the 2006-07 NHL season.
- Played his 1,000th career NHL game on November 6, 2010.
- Winner of the 2012 Spengler Cup with Team Canada.
- Captured gold medals with Team Canada at the 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2003 and 2004 World Championships, and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
- Inducted as a member of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2018.
- Announced as an inductee into the IIHF Hall of Fame on February 4, 2020. The induction ceremony was initially scheduled during the 2020 IIHF World Championship but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His induction was formally made at the medal ceremony of the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
8. Career statistics
8.1. Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991-92 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1992-93 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 64 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 59 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1993-94 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 72 | 50 | 55 | 105 | 88 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1994-95 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 50 | 41 | 45 | 86 | 66 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 22 | ||
| 1994-95 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1995-96 | Cape Breton Oilers | AHL | 9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1995-96 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 48 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 28 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1996-97 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 39 | 22 | 61 | 76 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 1997-98 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 65 | 20 | 13 | 33 | 44 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 1998-99 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 71 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 62 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1999-2000 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 58 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2000-01 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 31 | 39 | 70 | 58 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2001-02 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 61 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 48 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2002-03 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 66 | 27 | 34 | 61 | 67 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 2003-04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 70 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2005-06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 36 | 30 | 66 | 58 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 22 | ||
| 2006-07 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 53 | 31 | 22 | 53 | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2006-07 | New York Islanders | NHL | 18 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2007-08 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 55 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 50 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2008-09 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 77 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 62 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2009-10 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 67 | 22 | 31 | 53 | 42 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2010-11 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 23 | 24 | 47 | 35 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2012-13 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 47 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 40 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2013-14 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 72 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 44 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2015-16 | Stony Plain Eagles | ChHL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 12 | ||
| 2016-17 | Stony Plain Eagles | ChHL | 10 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,270 | 386 | 456 | 842 | 976 | 93 | 28 | 31 | 59 | 88 | ||||
8.2. International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Canada | WJC | Gold | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 1999 | Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 2000 | Canada | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2002 | Canada | OG | Gold | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | Canada | WC | 6th | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2003 | Canada | WC | Gold | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2004 | Canada | WC | Gold | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2004 | Canada | WCH | Gold | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2005 | Canada | WC | Silver | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 2006 | Canada | OG | 7th | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2010 | Canada | WC | 7th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Junior totals | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |||
| Senior totals | 79 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 34 | |||