Ryan Smyth Clicks With Kopitar in L.A.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- In May of 2005, Ryan Smyth was at the World Championships in Austria when he lined up for a faceoff in Team Canada's defensive zone against a teenager from Slovenia.

The kid won the faceoff and, from in front of the net, deflected in a goal before Smyth even knew what hit him. "Who the heck is this guy"? Smith asked himself.

Today, Smyth and his tormentor, budding NHL star center Anze Kopitar, are on the same line for the Los Angeles Kings.

Two years after signing with the Avalanche as a free agent, the 33-year old Smyth found himself on the worst team in the Western Conference, with a franchise in need of a major overhaul.

Salvation came in the form of a trade offer on July 11 from Kings GM Dean Lombardi. Smyth possessed a no-move clause in his Colorado contract and could have blocked the deal, but after talking it over with his wife he gave the trade his blessing and his family was on its way to California.

On the first day of training camp, coach Terry Murray placed the veteran left wing on a line with Kopitar and Justin Williams and they have not been split up since. Four games into the season, Smyth has four goals and three assists and the 22-year-old Kopitar is 3-6-9.

"We've clicked well," Smyth said Monday afternoon before the Kings faced the New York Islanders. "The thing with Anze is, the puck doesn't die with him. He always makes the complete play."

Said Kopitar: "Ryan's a special player because he makes everyone around him better. Justin and I, we do a lot of our work on the outside. Ryan has been getting his nose dirty for a time. He's great behind the net and crashing the crease. He makes the game easier."

Just 90 minutes before Monday's game, Smyth had the demeanor of a man on a mission.

He is royalty in Canada for his international play at the World Championships and the Olympics and for leading the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers to within one victory of a Stanley Cup.

But after his shocking trade to the Islanders at the '07 deadline and his decision to sign with a Colorado team in decline, he has been off the NHL map for a while.

By agreeing to the trade to Los Angeles, Smyth skipped Colorado's rebuilding phase to join the almost-there Kings. In fact, he is regarded by Kings management as a final piece to their three-year rebuild -- if not the final piece.

Smyth is well aware that many are watching to see what he has left, if he is still capable of carrying a team.

"You're always proving yourself," he said. "I've talked about this with (teammate) Sean O'Donnell this year. I was thinking of (Islanders veteran) Doug Weight walking in today. That's the great challenge of this game. There's always so many talented young players breaking in. The key is taking care of yourself and being ready to prove yourself all over again.

"I want to be a key piece here, someone who can help us take the next step and become a contender. But what motivates you day after day to be your best is, everywhere you look there's a young player who wants to take your job."