BLOG: Unfinished business

EDMONTON, AB- Mike Smith isn't quite ready to ride off into the sunset over the Okanagan Lake just yet.
Speaking from his family's home in Kelowna on Saturday with a fresh two-year pact with the Edmonton Oilers signed and delivered, the 38-year-old netminder is approaching his 16th season in the National Hockey League with the same vigour and determination as he did breaking into the League as a backup with the Dallas Stars in 2006.
"The training aspect has changed, the mental capacity has improved, but I'm still as motivated as I was as a 26-year-old to win games and to be a part of a winning team and organization," said Smith. "I think the big thing is that you don't take any of it for granted at this point of your career."
"I really appreciate the Oilers organization allowing me to continue my playing career and chase my ultimate goal, which is to win a Stanley Cup. Edmonton is a good fit for me."

Smith was a key cog in the crease for the Oilers during the '20-21 campaign with a 21-6-2 record, a .923 save percentage, and 2.31 goals-against average to go along with his influence as a veteran voice in the locker room.
To Smith, his stats from a late-career renaissance mean just as much as his age, to which he attests hasn't affected his drive to pursue a Stanley Cup with the Oilers.
"I feel like I'm in a good spot mentally and physically right now even at my age, so I feel like I still have some unfinished business to do," he said. "With [winning a Stanley Cup] comes growth and maturity, and a realization these opportunities don't come around every year.
"Obviously we're trying to build something here in Edmonton, and I think the whole organization understands where we're at and the growth we've had in the last few years. I think there's an excitement around the team and I'm super thrilled to be a part of that."
A new two-year extension to stay in Edmonton gives Smith the runway to continue the process with the Oilers organization and his teammates, along with the chance to bring his family to Edmonton and potentially finish his extended NHL career in an Orange & Blue uniform.
In the mind of the 6-foot-5, 220-pound goalie, there was really no other option he wanted other than a return to Edmonton.
"I think at this point in my career, you don't want to be moving around all over the place to uncharted waters," Smith said. "My goal was to come back to Edmonton and hopefully finish my career here.
"There'd be no better way to go out than bring a Stanley Cup back to the city of Edmonton and finish off my career in that sense. I never really explored any other options. I always wanted to be back in Edmonton."