Before we get into the vast credentials of Ryan Smyth, think that it took until #8 before we got a player that was not part of the Oilers dynasty that won five Stanley Cups.
Damn, were they good!
Now, about Ryan Smyth.
Kevin Lowe did not get the due he should have when he was in Edmonton, but when you look at the Hall of Famers around him (Gretzky, Anderson, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, and Fuhr) how could he? We will rectify that here.
Glenn Anderson would begin with his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers in 1980, and before long, he was part of a powerhouse team with Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Grant Fuhr. As a rookie, Anderson scored 30 Goals and would hit that plateau in the next seven seasons. Twice in that period, the Right Winger would hit the 50 Goal mark twice (1983-84 & 1985-86) and would go over 100 Points on three occasions.
The offensive firepower of the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s had never been seen before or since. When you open up the ice as they did, it leaves you susceptible to the defensive side, and you require someone special in-between the pipes. That is precisely what Grant Fuhr provided.