Ryan Smyth Insists He’s Not Living In The Past Since His Trade Back To Edmonton In 2011 But His Reasons For His LA Exit Still Remain Murky
Ryan Smyth – Photo: IKIRI
By Paul Armbruster • KingsNewsDaily.com •
In Helene Elliot’s LA Times piece today, she revealed former King Ryan Smith’s feelings about leaving the club prior to LA’s Stanley Cup win.
“I’d be lying to you if I’d be sitting here and saying I didn’t,” he said. “It was tough to swallow, for sure, but it was great to see some of my friends win it.”
That tidbit seems to be the prevailing focus of the story.
However, that wasn’t what caught this editor’s attention. It was the quote that followed that raised an eyebrow: “Obviously, you can’t live in the past. You can’t sit there and dwell on things. My family’s safe, and that’s the most important thing.”
Helene made no mention of that odd bit of word choice beyond the quote itself and there appeared to be no followup question asking for clarification on what exactly he meant by that statement. Helene did mention speculation about Smyth’s wife being unhappy living in the reigning Stanley Cup Champion’s city. But did his wife feel unsafe living in Los Angeles?
Smyth was quoted back in June of 2011 saying, “My wife and I discussed for a little while that we wanted to come back to Canada for personal reasons. That’s where home is for us. The kids are starting out in school. We just felt it would be best for us to come back.”
When anyone says, “we just felt” it is almost certain there is more to the story. In this case, the personal reasons Smyth cited may have revolved around where their children were raised. It certainly seems plausible. But having a preference where to raise a family and using words like ‘safe’ to describe your family’s current condition in the context of the subject at hand (that being where you used to live) seems to indicate a disconnect between a simple personal preference and downright fear.
That is a bizarre remark. One can only speculate as to its deeper meaning. I wonder if he resents her for the choice.
I still don’t know what to make of this guy. I used to sit during warmups at Kings games and watch him stand in front of the net, having a defender shoot pucks from the blueline, and tip the pucks as they came his way. No question his hand-eye coordination was/is like no other. The personal aspect is something I just don’t get. Being a family man, there’s simply nothing I won’t do for my wife and children so, if there was a ‘threat’, I can’t blame him for wanting to move on. Horrible timing though… However, who’s to say we win The Cup with him and his salary still on the team?
Isn’t it always said that the guys with the innate skills are almost always a little “touched” in the head? I think it applies to Smyth.
It really doesn’t matter what their reasons were. They wanted out of LA. So be it said Lombardi. He granted Ryan’s wish. Done.
The biggest thing is now Ryan may never win a Stanley Cup, as the Kings win it as soon as he’s gone. It’s called karma. In Japanese it’s called bachi.
Be careful what you wish for. Ryan learns it the hard way. Stings, doesn’t it?
By the way, Paul. I believe you have my answer! In the end, you were more important to me than him. Nuff said? Thank you, buddy!
Nuff said!
Oh, by the way, isn’t Karma Japanese too???
No. It’s not. Bachi is nihongo, or Japanese.
I’d teach you Japanese, but you’d have to get your eyes done first! (I have knives, if you’re interested!)
I have figured it out, Hes a prepper!
Why didn’t I think of that? Genius! That’s it, I’m moving to Edmonton.
Not to be a smartass (don’t let anyone tell you I’m not!), but shouldn’t it be “he’s a Pepper!”
I’m just sayin……
i really couldn’t care less about ryan smyth…he was with us for a short-period of time and i didn’t feel his overall performance warranted a fan’s obligation to be missed…
the way he would go missing for long stretches of play/games was disturbing…smytty has played in a lot of key international hockey tourneys, but never really displayed the leadership he did in those venues compared to what we asked of him on the the ice…
so…he can say what he wants…california, in particular, los angeles, is not a good place to raise a family, etc., etc., etc,…
Well said @variable, errrrr, Craig!
I agree.
I cannot get how anyone could feel unsafe on their (NHL) salary.
Its not like amateur pay and living in Compton.
Maybe spray tan kills.
Were they living in the OC and she was hanging with the desperate housewives?
Paparazzi?
This is just absurd.
He can afford a better school for his kids,
its not like he lived next to staples and had to send his kids to LAUSD.
A narrow minded and weak excuse.
Before I get bashed, I have three boys 6 8 9, have lived in Gardena, Redondo, Lawndale and Torrance, we chose Torrance for the schools and rent is not cheap.
If we can make it work on under 100k a year, plus going to games and the rest of life.
I never felt unsafe anywhere, I chose Torrance for the better schools over Lawndale and Gardena.
I am sorry, no sympathy.
Agreed. I grew up mostly in Gardena, and that was way back in the “safer” days, 60′s thru 80′s.
I wouldn’t live in Gardena now if given a choice.
I guess Ryan Smyth and his family felt terrorized in Manhattan Beach? I find that very hard to believe. Something tells me that the Smyths werent used to being around a lot of Asian, Hispanic, and African American people in lilly white Edmonton.
You may be onto something there.
Hahaha! MB is such the jungle, huh?
Maybe that time they came out for warmups wearing mullet wigs really pissed him off. He acted like an a-hole after that. He looked genuinely embarrassed. Mortified even. Maybe he could never come to terms with that, and felt his teammates looked at him as a clown. Personally, I thought it was freaking hilarious.
BTW, you’ve done a masterful job with this site, Paul. I like your opinions and the one stop shopping.
Thank you! Much appreciated. Still have a long way to go but it’s getting there.
The REAL story:
Smitty kept seeing this guy always hanging around TSC during practices, filming his every move, lurking in the shadows, asking for pictures with hot models, etc.
He got scared, asked for a trade and LEFT!
Next season, we won the CUP!
The REAL thank you belongs to PAUL ARMBRUSTER! Thanks buddy! You deserve a ring for that.
If you only knew!
Wait……..what?