Former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup champion has been let go

The 61-year-old Smith just finished a four-year coaching stint with the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. For much of that time, Kris Knoblauch was the head coach until he was hired by the Edmonton Oilers. Smith moved up to replace Knoblauch and took the team to the playoffs, getting as far as the third round. However, when his contract was up, Hartford decided not to resign Smith.

The connection to the Edmonton Oilers runs deep with Smith. From 1984 to 1990, he played with the core group of Oilers, including another Oiler great in Paul Coffey. Later, he moved into coaching and worked with Knoblauch in Hartford, serving even as an assistant coach for the Oilers during some of those more trying years between 2010 and 2014. So his long relationships with these gentlemen and his coaching history will make him a friend not only to Edmonton's hockey circles but also to its coaching duo.

Recently, Jim Matheson of the 'Edmonton Journal' mentioned the departure of Smith from Hartford and added very little about his leaving. With the news of his retirement, there is already some speculation about Smith returning to Edmonton in some sort of coaching capacity. As deeply rooted as he is within the organization, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see the Oilers bring him aboard in some capacity, given his immense success as both a player and coach within the organization. While the Oilers currently have a full complement of coaches, any changes next season could open a door for Smith.

The Oilers have a history of hiring former players into either a coaching or managerial role, but for the most part, those have provided mixed results. However, Paul Coffey helped buck that trend with a pretty impressive debut behind the bench last season. With Coffey at the helm, Edmonton's D-line improved substantially and was a major contributor to Edmonton's increased rise in the standings. It could also mean more former Oilers players being considered for coaching positions in the future.

If the Oilers are in need of coaching talent, perhaps Steve Smith is available at just the right time. With the close relationships to both Coffey and Knoblauch, along with his experience, Smith could find himself part of the Edmonton Oilers once again.