Alberts Smits was a late scratch on Saturday for the New York Rangers' road trip opener in Seattle, and there is a very good chance he will miss Monday night's matchup against the Edmonton Oilers as well.
Smits is currently dealing with an undisclosed injury, prompting the Rangers to recall defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday afternoon. Matthew Robertson had already been summoned to join the team on Halloween to serve as an emergency option, and he drew into the lineup for Smits against the Kraken. The Rangers are also navigating life without Sean Durzi, though Scott Morrow has performed admirably while skating in his place.
While the Rangers obviously prefer a completely healthy roster, this brief sidelining of Smits could ultimately serve as a blessing in disguise, that is assuming that what is ailing the rookie defenseman isn't overly serious.
The NHL regular season is a marathon, not a sprint
The regular season is once again a 84-game contest, up from 82 games, that started this year in late September and will run all the way until April. It is a grueling battle of attrition that can have an impact on battle-tested veterans, and is a learning curve for newcomers. Smits is an 18-year-old rookie and the youngest defenseman in the entire league, yet he has already skated in 17 games and logged roughly 240 minutes at 5-on-5.
His adjustment process to the North American pro game has featured expected ups and downs, and to this point he has posted a 46.47 GF%, a 45.39 CF%, and a 47.17 xGF% according to Evolving-Hockey.
A significant portion of his ice time has come alongside Braden Schneider, which has noticeably elevated the degree of difficulty. Through 146 minutes together, the duo has produced a 44.99 GF%, a 45.68 CF%, and a 46.13 xGF%. While it remains a relatively sample size, Schneider’s historical track record provides plenty of context as to why that pairing has struggled to play meaningful minutes out of their own zone.
Morrow, however, has proven to be an exceptional partner for Smits, and the three games they’ve spent together have brought out the best in the rookie. In 36 minutes of shared ice time, the pair has compiled a perfect 100 GF%, a 48.93 CF%, and an eye-opening 56.42 xGF%.
I asked Scott Morrow about his strong play these last 2 games for #NYR:
— Lydia Pirner (@LPirner) November 4, 2026
“A lot of credit goes to my teammates for supporting me. It’s tough when you are out for a long time to feel like a part of the group. But the guys here have done a really good job of making me feel… pic.twitter.com/e4MI4KFTnu
Having an injury pop up right now feels like tough timing, but a two-to-three-game break could ultimately allow the youngster to catch his breath, decompress, and return to the lineup sharper than before.
It is easy to forget the monumental leap in competition he is making, especially since the Rangers chose to acclimate him this way rather than assigning him to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. Noah Laba hit the rookie wall hard last year, and the 19-day break in February for the Olympics allowed him to finish the season strong in March and April.
The Rangers must address their Schneider problem
Morrow's steady play has been immensely encouraging, not just in his individual execution, but in how effectively he complements Smits. Morrow is currently in the lineup because Durzi is sidelined, and Durzi remains an important contributor whom the Rangers will want back on the ice the second he is cleared.
Schneider is struggling with Smits as his partner, which I could excuse, but he isn’t much better with someone else, which I can’t.
— Andrew Chelney🍊 (@ChelneyAndrew) November 5, 2026
Said it on the pod, I love Braden Schneider the person, but as a player, he doesn’t show me enough to justify holding onto. #NYR https://t.co/D4DfsiXPG0
When Durzi is ready to return, it is widely expected that Morrow will head back to the press box as a healthy scratch. However, the Rangers might be far better off rotating Schneider out instead.
Schneider is currently playing on a one-year contract and will remain a restricted free agent for one additional season once it expires, but there does not appear to be an obvious long-term future for him on Broadway. The Rangers need to find a way to solve this emerging problem, and there's more urgency to do so given how things have transpired. Not only would keeping Morrow in the rotation reward his strong play, but it is something that goes a long way toward helping the ongoing development of their prized 2026 lottery pick.
It remains to be seen how head coach Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff navigate the lineup once everyone is healthy. While the Rangers shouldn't be in the business of rushing back Smits or Durzi until they are ready, developing a plan that gives New York's best defensemen on the roster a spot in the lineup is something that should be a top priority for President and General Manager Chris Drury.
If that means finding a trade partner for Schneider... so be it. If that ends up being the case, there's no chance the team will scratch him and hurt his value, and that makes mapping out a plan for the immediate future that much more important.
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