Player News

• Oilers' Mike Smith: Fails physical, headed for LTIR

  09/21/2022 • By RotoWire

  Smith (undisclosed) failed his physical Wednesday and will be placed on long-term injured reserve. Smith isn't expected to play this year due to an undisclosed injury, and this news all but confirms that will be the case. The 40-year-old netminder has one season remaining on his two-year, $4.4 million contract with the Oilers, and he'll almost certainly announce his retirement ahead of the 2023-24 season. Assuming that comes to fruition and he's unable to play in 2022-23, Smith will finish his career having going 299-263-78 while posting a .912 save percentage and a 2.70 GAA through 670 appearances spread over 16 seasons.

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• Oilers' Mike Smith: Unlikely to play next season

  07/13/2022 • By RotoWire

  Smith (undisclosed) is unlikely to play in 2022-23, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports. Smith is apparently dealing with a number of injuries, which are collectively expected to keep him off the ice. Considering he's 40 years old and in the final year of his current contract, this could potentially spell the end of Smith's playing career. The Oilers are expected to roll with Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner as their top-two goalies in 2022-23. Smith will likely formally be placed on long-term injured reserve at the start of the campaign.

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• Oilers' Mike Smith: Yields six goals in loss

  06/07/2022 • By RotoWire

  Smith allowed six goals on 42 shots in Monday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 4. Smith wasn't able to shake off his recent struggles, allowing the Avalanche to recover from a two-goal deficit in the third period. In overtime, a high tip led to a rebound that Artturi Lehkonen put in, which ended the Oilers' season in a 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference Finals. Smith allowed at least three goals in each of his last six games in the playoffs, including a pair of six-goal duds. The 40-year-old is under contract with the Oilers for next season after signing a two-year deal last July. He posted a 16-9-2 record with a 2.81 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 28 regular-season contests in an injury-plagued campaign.

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• Oilers' Mike Smith: Starting Game 4

  06/06/2022 • By RotoWire

  Smith will get the starting nod at home versus Colorado in Monday's Game 4, Bob Stauffer of the Oilers Radio Network reports. Despite giving up 20 goals on 175 shots (.886 save percentage) in his last five outings, Smith remains the starter for the Oilers, which comes as a small surprise considering Mikko Koskinen was solid in relief in Game 1. If Smith can't rediscover his game Monday, the offseason will arrive sooner than hoped for the Oilers.

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• Oilers' Mike Smith: Strong effort in loss

  06/05/2022 • By RotoWire

  Smith surrendered three goals on 42 shots in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 3. The fourth goal was an empty-netter. Smith was a key part of the Oilers' penalty kill, successfully preventing the Avalanche from cashing in on their five man-advantage chances. He had a handful of strong saves, but it was his few mistakes that made the difference in this contest, which saw the Oilers fall into an 0-3 hole in the Western Conference Final. Smith's yielded 13 goals in this series, and it's unclear if head coach Jay Woodcroft will stick with the struggling 40-year-old in a must-win Game 4 on Monday or if Mikko Koskinen will get the nod.

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