Oilers Sign Ryan Smyth to Two-Year Contract

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have re-signed right wing Ryan Smyth to a two-year contract worth $4.5 million.  The deal will average out to $2.25 million per season.  In all 82 games last season, he had 19 goals and 27 assistd for 46 points and 82 penalty minutes.  This is a solid move for the Oilers, as Smyth has always been an excellent player on the team.  He's a great playmaker, has good offensive skills, is an excellent leader on and off the ice, and plays with some grit.  He will continue to be an excellent forward for the Oilers over the next two years.

Forward Ryan Smyth Returns to Edmonton

Ryan Smyth is on his way back to the Edmonton Oilers. The Los Angeles Kings announced on Sunday that they have traded Smyth to the Oilers for center Colin Fraser and a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. The original agreement had Gilbert Brule and a fourth-round pick going to the Kings, but an injury to the 24-year-old forward kept them from sealing the deal. Sources claim the Kings intended to buy out the final year of Brule's contract, but the current collective bargaining agreement prohibits NHL teams from buying out injured players. Los Angeles was willing to trade Smyth to Edmonton for just a seventh-round pick, but the Oilers wanted to move a little salary and included Fraser in the deal. Smyth requested a trade last week to his former team, where he spent 12 seasons from 1994 to 2007. He has one more year remaining on his current contract. In all 82 games last season with the Kings, he had 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points. Fraser appeared in 67 games last season with the Oilers, scoring three goals and two assists for five points and 60 penalty minutes. This is a decent move for the Oilers, as Smyth will bring lots of leadership to the young team. He also brings plenty of veteran, offensive depth and skill on the power play. Fraser will bring plenty of grit and toughness to the Kings' checking lines. In the end, this trade was mainly for Los Angeles to shed some salary after acquiring Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers this past week, as well as satisfy Smyth's request to be traded back to Edmonton.

Ryan Smyth Heading to Calgary Pending Ownership Approval

According to TSN's Gord Miller, a trade has been worked out that would see the Los Angeles Kings send left wing Ryan Smyth to the Calgary Flames for a late round pick. No deal has been confirmed and there's no guarantee the trade will go through, as the Flames ownership has delayed the transaction in order to make a final decision. Earlier this week, Smyth requested that the Kings trade him back to the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent the majority of his career. He has one more year on his current contract which has a salary cap hit of $6.25 million. I'll have more on this if the trade goes through.

EDIT

Ryan Smyth will not be going to the Calgary Flames. There is now a tentative deal in place for the Los Angeles Kings to trade Smyth to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Gilbert Brule and a draft pick.

EDIT

Smyth's return to Edmonton is being held up because of the health of Gilbert Brule. Sources say the Kings were willing to take on Brule with the intention of buying out the final year of his contract, but the collective bargaining agreement forbids teams from buying out injured players. For now, it's looks like Smyth is staying in Los Angeles unless the two teams can alter the terms of the trade.

Kings Acquire Veteran Forward Ryan Smyth from Avalanche

The Los Angeles Kings added some scoring depth to their roster late Friday evening into Saturday morning by acquiring left wing Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. The Kings were in the market to acquire a big-name forward and were rumored close to acquiring Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier last month, but the deal reportedly fell through. The Kings also had reported interest in signing free agent forwards Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa, but were unable to do so, and were even linked to Dany Heatley at one point. Smyth appeared in 77 games last season with the Avalanche, scoring 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points. In 920 career games with the Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders, he has 310 goals and 350 assists for 660 points. Quincey was claimed off waivers by the Kings from the Detroit Red Wings early last season. In 72 games last season, he scored four goals and 34 assists for 38 points, all career highs for the young defenseman. Preissing, who was frequently scratched from games last season, appeared in 22 games with the Kings, scoring three goals and four assists for seven points. He also played in 14 games with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. In 322 career games with the Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators, Preissing has 31 goals and 100 assists for 131 points.

This is an okay trade for the Kings, and probably not the one most Kings fans were hoping for. Sure, Smyth brings plenty of offensive and goal-scoring skill, leadership, and experience, but he’s not the offensive force he used to be. A lot of fans will probably wish the Kings had pursued a superstar like Lecavalier or Hossa, but Smyth should work out just fine for the next few seasons. The Avalanche got a pretty good young defenseman in Quincey, as he plays with lots of grit and has great offensive skills. He should be a fixture on their blueline for years to come. Preissing on the other hand, is merely just a depth defenseman anymore. He showed lots of promise early in his career as a top-four defenseman, but has been in constant decline the past few seasons. He still brings some offensive depth to the Avalanche blueline, but may end up being a sixth defenseman given his drop in production.