Playing Style
Smyth plays in the style of a power forward, depending largely on his size and strength to contribute offensively. By positioning himself in front of the net, he earns most of his goals by tipping pucks in past the goaltender or scoring on rebounds. Relying heavily on force and determination, he does not possess particularly good shooting skills. He has been known to use a two-piece stick (composite shaft with wooden blade) with a flat blade, both of which are trends which have largely gone out of date during or before Smyth's career. As a result, his success is predicated less on skill, but force and determination. When the Oilers drafted him out of junior, it was said that general manager Glen Sather was looking for someone with "lots of guts". Smyth is also known as a leader, having served as captain for Canada's World Championship teams on six occasions, as well as an alternate captain on all of the teams he has played with in the NHL.
Read more about this topic: Ryan Smyth
Famous quotes containing the words playing and/or style:
“Guilt is the most destructive of all emotions. It mourns what has been while playing no part in what may be, now or in the future. Whatever you are doing, however, you are coping, if you listen to your child and to your own feelings, there will be something you can actually do to make things right.”
—Penelope Leach (20th century)
“Where there is no style, there is in effect no point of view. There is, essentially, no anger, no conviction, no self. Style is opinion, hung washing, the calibre of a bullet, teething beads.... One’s style holds one, thankfully, at bay from the enemies of it but not from the stupid crucifixions by those who must willfully misunderstand it.”
—Alexander Theroux (b. 1940)