Dancing in the Reign: Business In Front, Party In The Back; Here’s To You, Smytty!

And Ryan Smyth took the ice tonight for the 1,000th time in his illustrious NHL career. Only 256 others have reached the milestone, and Smyth couldn’t be any more deserving of his addition to the club. He’s established tremendous success in one of the toughest areas of the game, the slot. Smyth scored tonight; A night in which the spotlight was begging for another scrappy goal from #94. And that he did, in the exact form in which he’s built his legacy. In front of the net, slamming home a rebound, disposing of garbage. Just another night of getting the job done, highlight reel aside. Tonight was filled with pride; Los Angeles is lucky to celebrate an elite accomplishment of such a storied player. 722 career points in 1,000 games, and forever a face of the Edmonton Oilers and the Canadian Olympic squad. Now he’s in Southern California in the midst of his best shot at a Stanley Cup. Vouch for his tenure in Edmonton if you want, but the Cup has it’s eye on LA these days. That’s not being biased, it’s simply the nature of the overwhelming improvement this roster has developed. Dean Lombardi‘s acquisition of Smyth in July of 2009 is arguably one of his best moves he’s made as Kings’ GM. He snagged a winner; A humble, dependable veteran who knows his role, and plays it well. Could any other veteran in the league mesh better with this team? I’ll answer that seemingly rhetorical question for you. No. We needed experience to stabilize a young offense, and Smyth fit the bill perfectly. He doesn’t just support the young talent that surrounds him, he makes it better. Let them play their game, Smytty’s waiting for you in the slot. He doesn’t depend on speed, strength, or his shot for success, which denounces many issues regarding his age. If Ryan Smyth wins a Stanley Cup, it will be in a Los Angeles Kings uniform. In less than two seasons he’s established himself as a core component to this team’s success. When you think future for the Kings, tab Ryan Smyth as a part of it.