The Ottawa Senators have announced that defenseman Jason Smith, a former captain in both Edmonton and Philadelphia, has retired.
Smith was well-loved here in Edmonton, where he spent the bulk of his career and served as captain for six years (2001-07) – becoming the longest serving captain in Oilers history. There was never any question about either his courage or his character, and it was those two attributes that really defined his game. During his career he was one of the NHL’s best shot-blockers and hitters.
Career Achievements
- Drafted 18th overall, 1992
- WHL All-Rookie Team, 1992
- WHL First All-Star Team, 1993
- Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team, 1993
- Bill Hunter Trophy (Top WHL Defenseman), 1993
- Won a gold medal with the Canadian WJC team, 1993
- Won a Calder Cup with the Albany River Rats, 1995
- Played in his 1000th NHL game, 2009
- Captained his junior team, his AHL team, and two NHL teams
Smith led every team he captained on lengthy post-season runs, and won it all at the AHL level after coming back from a severe knee injury that cost him most of the season. Another knee injury cost him the final eighteen games of his final NHL season, and may have played a factor in his retirement.
Samwise wrote:
Would be cool if the Oil signed him to a contract for one day so he could retire an Oiler…….
He was a warrior
He was old time hockey
He was a GREAT Oiler Captian
He was GREAT in the community
He was pure class
Hockey will miss him
Colin wrote:
Except for that is lame.
Archaeologuy wrote:
This is a very tough question… and a question that highlights one of the great flaws of the current roster: The Oilers have failed to draft, or otherwise aquire and develop it's own franchise player with natural leadership qualities.
Is Souray a true Oiler or a hired gun? Is Hemsky a leader? Is Horcoff Captain material? I'm sad to say, that if the Oilers were to name a Captain today who accurately reflected the identity of last years team: Gilbert would be an excellent choice… and that's just sad.
Aww, I love Gator! Best of luck to him and his family. He is one classy babe.
The Smith retirement smells a bit to me. I have a sneaking suspicion he was told he'd likely be playing in Binghampton this year. And he doesn't have to be a genius to see that at 2.6 with the current state of affairs across the league, he wasn't gonna find another team to pick him up. Some of these veteran players end up screwing themselves over with the contracts they sign. I don't for a second think that he would be retiring today if his cap hit was around a cool milli.
I'm sad to say…..
………and that's just sad?
I suck today. First, I confused Niinimaa with Pitkannen… then I wrote a sentance like that. An edit feature would sure help those of us who are suffering early, early onset alzheimers. Just sayin…
@ RossCreek:
Without any proof whatsoever… I kind of wonder the same thing. But before we get all righteous at Murray, let's see what happens with Staios.
Am I less of a man if that video made my eyes watery?
Gator was "old school" man … just like I was!!
Dan the Man wrote:
I'm still crying. I watched that thing thirty minutes ago.
RossCreek wrote:
I don't know, he was pretty bad last year and he did have a knee injury.
Smith had the greatest crazy-eyes.
Jason was skating and ready to go to camp next week, what the heck?
Wonder what the Sens did to have Jason co-operate with this decision…..hush money? Who would put the work in and then at the last minute turn your back on 2 1/2 million dollars.
Dan the Man wrote:
no.
RossCreek wrote:
It smells rotten alright. I bet they told him if he retires, they will still give him the full salary, with no cap hit for them. This paves the way for them to fit Heatley in under the cap with room to spare for a 1.3 Mike Comrie and a chance at gaining back the respectability the Sens once had.
God damn I loved Jason Smith. He was a treat to watch when he'd straight arm anybody that crossed the blueline. I'll never forget seeing him get a slap shot in the mouth, drop to the ground looking up at the rafters for a second and then sitting up and yelling, "FU*K!" Then he skates to the bench and you can see him in the hall way getting stitched up in the mouth right there and doesn't even miss a shift.
MacTavish's best quote ever….. "Gator has the pain threshold of a cadaver."
Quicksilver ballet wrote:
Hey Jason, either you ride the bus in the A for that moola or you retire with some dignity.
RossCreek wrote:
Hey Jason, either you ride the bus in the A for that moola or you retire with some dignity.
Obviously you get alot further in Ottawa with a kind word and a gun, than you do with just a kind word.
Do we give Jason 3rd place in captains history behind Wayne and Mark?
@ Dodd:
Smith does need to have a font office job in hockey development, but I would be 100% behind a community liaison job or a media guy/figurehead for the Oilers non-profit work.
Quicksilver ballet wrote:
Maybe 4th? What about Dougie? Better player. Just as good in community. Just as respected in dressing room. Just as respectful after leaving Edmonton. Then again, Gator captained the CHRIS PRONGER-led team all the way to a 3-1 defeat in game 7 of the finals.
Skate on into the sunset Gator. And make sure to crush someone along the boards on your way out.
I was at that tribute game against Philly…there was a lot of watery eyes in the stands.
They sure don't make 'em like Gator anymore.
Travis Dakin wrote:
Beauty.
Gator is a man's man.
A CNN reporter once asked a marine sniper stationed in Afghanistan what he felt when he shot a terrorist. The man paused, shrugged, and replied, "Recoil."
That man is to snipers what Gator is to defencemen. You gotta love those kind of guys.
Chris wrote:
I never heard that before. Great quote!
A true warrior and a team player, all the best to him in the future!
nickxero wrote:
Ouch.
Chris wrote:
How many years did we complain about having too much gas and not enough Porsche? See: Mid-nineties.
MattL wrote:
I always laugh about that too… though you can obviously make a case for balance…. that said, talent is alot harder (and costs alot more) to come by. If we really want some grit I'm sure we could trade a guy like Cogs for a 27 Moreau++
Chris wrote:
I don't think that actually happened, it has also been attributed to a Katie Couric interview. Funny line, didn't happen.
@ MattL:
Oh I hear you…
Great forwards; subpar defence.
Great defence; subpar forwards.
Lot's of grit; limited skill.
Lot's of skill: limited grit.
I wish Oilers management could ice a team with balance for once.
@ MattL:
We are oilers fans. The team could go 82-0. Then sweep every team on the way to the cup 4 years in a row. winnig every game 14 to 0. With 10 50 goal scorers on sweet entry level contracts. We would still complain that the other 2 forwards didn't score fifty and scream for their heads. Thats life in oil country.