Ryan Smyth: Mr. 1,000

Saturday’s game will be a major achievement for Ryan Smyth, who will play in his 1,000th career NHL game. Smyth will become only the 256th NHLer in history to reach that plateau, which is particularly impressive given that Smyth is known for playing a hard-nosed, gritty, front-of-net game despite carrying only 190 points on his 6-foot-1 frame. Smyth broke into the league in 1995, when current Kings teammate Brayden Schenn was 3 years old, and has 335 goals and 386 assists during a career with Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Colorado and the Kings. Smyth turns 35 in February.

There have been a couple great pieces on Smyth’s career in the past couple days, and you might not have been the one by the great Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, which you can find by clicking here.

SMYTH: “It means a lot. I think it’s a great accomplishment, not only for myself but for the organizations that I’ve been with, the training staffs that I’ve had over the course of my career. Doctors, keeping me intact. And obviously a little bit of hard work, on the other front, but there’s been a lot of great support from family, from my wife and kids and friends and parents. It will be fun.”

Question: This game isn’t easy for anyone, but the way you play the game, does it sometimes feel like more than 82 games a year?

SMYTH: “There are some days when it’s a little tougher than others, through the duration, but it’s just the will, the fight within and the wanting to win. The bottom line is, you check your egos and stuff at the door, come in and put your hard hat on and go to work. In my case, it’s a little bit tougher than maybe some of the others, but that’s my style and that’s the way I have to make an honest living.”