Ryan Smyth took a year off from hockey following his 2014 retirement, but the Edmonton resident is ready and willing to get back to work in some capacity with the Edmonton Oilers.

"I would like to sit down with (Oilers Entertainment Group chief executive officer) Bob Nicholson and see what they’re thinking," Smyth told Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. "I want to be involved in hockey but I don’t know in what capacity."

One area in which Smyth may be able to help would be in player development, imparting the wisdom he's gathered to the club's crop of young, budding stars.

"Captain Canada" debunked the notion he's been approached about phenom Connor McDavid living with his family, but did leave that door open.

"Haven’t been contacted at all (about McDavid) ... it’s all rumours. I haven’t put my name forward," he stated. "It’s not that I haven’t thought about it though."

"I want the Oilers to excel going forward and Connor is going to be a big part of it, but you also have to protect the kid."

Smyth knows a thing or two about succeeding in Edmonton as he ranks second on the Oilers all time with 971 games played, and sixth in points with 631.