Ryan Smyth will don an Edmonton Oilers sweater for the last time Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
Smyth announced Friday that he’ll retire from the NHL after 20 seasons, 15 of which he spent with the Oilers. He also played for the New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, but he was drafted sixth overall by the Oilers in 1994.
“I have been truly blessed to play this game for as long as I have and will cherish the memories forever,” Smyth, who’s 38, said in a statement released by the Oilers. “After some difficult discussions over the past week, I felt it was best to make this decision and move on with life after hockey and enjoy every minute I have with my family.”
Smyth will have played in 1,270 NHL games after he retires. His 126 power-play goals with the Oilers tied him with former Edmonton standout Glenn Anderson for the franchise record.
Smyth is the sole owner of another Oilers record — fastest hat trick — which he accomplished in just 2:01 against the San Jose Sharks in 2006.
“We would like to thank Ryan for being a great Oiler,” Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish said in the team-issued statement. “Ryan and his family are ambassadors for both the Oilers and the City of Edmonton and we cannot thank them enough for their dedication. Ryan truly exemplifies what it means to be an Oiler and I am extremely proud to have had him as key part of our hockey club for so many years.”
