Ryan Smyth Plays His 1000th NHL Game. Why So Impressive?

Ryan Smyth Plays His 1000th NHL Game

Ryan Smyth Plays His 1000th NHL Game. Why So Impressive?

When Ryan Smyth suited up for the Los Angeles Kings this past weekend against the Nashville Predators, he joined an elite group of players who have played 1000 games in the National Hockey League. There have been only 254 players in the history of the league to reach that milestone, and few that have played the type of rugged, hard-nosed hockey that Ryan Smyth is known for. This guy goes hard every night and never takes a shift off. He is usually parked in front of the opposition net taking a beating and battling for territory looking for a tip in or rebound goal. The style of hockey that he plays does not usually lend itself to a long career, which what makes it special to have him reach this number of games. And make no mistake, he has taken a beating. Slapshots to the face fracturing several facial bones, picking up his own teeth of the ice, getting his face stitched up on the bench, broken legs, he's seen it all and has continued to bounce back and battle another night. He is a true warrior and sacrafices his own health and well being continuously and passionately. It's this style of play that he has demonstrated over the length of his career that makes reaching this milestone all the more impressive.

It is rare to find a player that plays with the level of heart and determination that Smyth does. It would be a lot easier to reach the 1000 game plateau being a perimeter player or a finesse type guy that rarely goes into the corner or take a hit to make a play. But Smyth takes a beating every night and the fact that he has been able to play that way long enough to play this many games without being seriously injured is impressive.

But make no mistake, Smyth is not just a brainless player who stands in front of the net and takes a beating to score garbage goals. He's got some serious skills to go along with that toughness. He's got incredibly soft hands and is a phenomenal passer. I actually played against him in junior hockey and saw him do some jaw dropping things with the puck. If he wasn't so skilled he wouldn't have been chosen to play for Team Canada at the Salt Lake City Olympics where Canada won the gold medal. In fact, Smyth has played more international games for Canada than any other player in history, earning him the nickname "Captain Canada". An accomplishment that makes his 1000 NHL games even more impressive when you tack on all those extra games at the World Championships after the NHL season is over.

Smyth is currently on his fourth NHL team in his career after playing the majority of it in Edmonton, followed by a short stint with the New York Islander and then two season with the Colorado Avalanche. He has not yet won a Stanley Cup, but whether or not you are a Los Angeles Kings fan or not, any hockey fan would have to be happy for a guy like Ryan Smyth to win a champioship. He deserves it.

So here's a tip of the hat to Ryan Smyth for a great accomplishment and, as a hockey fan, I hope he continues to be healthy have the success that he works so hard for.

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