The New York Rangers didn't have the luck of the draw on the night of the NHL Draft Lottery, but they did secure the No. 5 pick, which they used on Latvia defenseman Alberts Smits. During the draft process, Smits was touted as the most pro-ready of all the prospects in the 2026 class, which was great for the Rangers, given the defense at the time, things looked bleak. But Smits' trajectory for his rookie season took a bit of a hit aftewr the team traded for Marcus Petterssson and Sean Durzi, solidifying New York's second defensive pairing.
Even with the new additions on defense, Smits does have a shot at making the roster as a third pairing defenseman alongside Braden Schneider. But it's up to head coach Mike Sullivan if he thinks Smits is ready to jump right into the pros on Opening Night.
When talking to reporters on Wednesday before the start of training camp, Sullivan was asked if Smits had a shot at making the team. Sullivan said that Smits is under consideration for a roster spot heading into the upcoming season.
Mike Sullivan says Alberts Smits has a shot at making Rangers' Opening Night roster
"We're impressed with his game. I think the path that he's taken to get here... has been beneficial for him," said Sullivan, h/t Colin Stephenson of Newsday. "He's played in men's leagues, and... He's in a man's body already, given his age."
One of the reasons why Smits was a highly touted defenseman wasn't just because he had a great shot and his frame (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), but also because of his experience playing in top leagues in international competition. He thrived in the top leagues in Finland and Germany, while also holding his own against NHL talent in the Winter Olympics playing for Latvia.
Smits does have the upside where he should be a shoe-in to be the first top prospect to get his shot with the team in New York. However, Sullivan did pump the brakes a bit, saying he wants to ensure the decision he makes is the one that will set Smits up for the most success.
"I think the most important thing is, and we have talked about this internally, is that in the big picture, the sooner that Smits becomes part of our roster the better," said Sullivan, h/t Mollie Walker of the New York Post. "But we also have to make sure that we do the right thing for him, both in the short term and in the long term... We'll see where it goes... His play will tell us where we think he fits and what's best for him."
Alberts Smits knows he needs to clean up game to make Rangers' roster
Smits took part in the Rangers' rookie camp this past weekend, where they played two exhibition games against the Philadelphia Flyers. Smits only played in the first exhibition game, where there were mixed results. While he did show off how powerful his shot is, he turned over the puck multiple times in the loss to Philadelphia. He wouldn't participate in the final game on Sunday.
The Athletic's Peter Baugh asked Smits if there was anything that he needed to clean up at camp, he said it was the turnovers.
“Everybody over here, they can take care of the puck and make good decisions," Smits told Baugh.
Smits knows he's not going to be a certified lock to make the roster for their season-opening game against the Boston Bruins, and he's go to show he is a better option than the other defensemen that are in line for the final spots on the roster.
But Sullivan has let it be known that Smits does have a chance to make the cut during the preseason.
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