The New York Rangers are a day away from opening up the 2026-27 NHL season in Boston, and 18-year-old Alberts Smits will officially be part of the roster to start the season just months after being selected No. 5 overall. Given the moves the Rangers made this summer to improve the defense, plus the players from last year who remained with the team, it really felt like the youngster would just be on the outside looking in a ways away in Hartford just for a short while until the team came calling.
While other youngsters like Dylan Garand were sent away, his fate will be known a little later on Monday, Smits will get to start living out his dream. It remains to be seen in what capacity Smits will be utilized, Matthew Robertson remaining on the roster gives Mike Sullivan some options if he prefers to shelter the rookie early.
Smits makes the unexpected jump, but Rangers are excited for what he can do
It feels like it was yesterday that the Rangers made the decision to select Smits, notably passing on other highly touted options to do so, and now he will be preparing to make his NHL debut. While there always was a chance that the Rangers would start Smits in the NHL, with the option of assigning him later, objectively he held his own in training camp and the preseason games he skated in.
This year marks the NHL's return to an 84-game schedule, and the league shortened the preseason to accommodate two extra regular season games being added to the schedule. That also resulted in there being a much shorter training camp before preseason games started, and kudos to Smits for doing enough in such a short while to grab the attention of the coaching staff.
Sullivan has been impressed with what he's seen from Smits
Sullivan is a coach who is never afraid of telling it like it is, and he's been pretty forthright regarding Smits.
#NYR head coach Mike Sullivan on Alberts Šmits:
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) September 23, 2026
"I thought he played well. One of the biggest challenges for young players is just the physical size and strength of the guys in this league, and I mean you guys can see it, he's a man as an 18-year-old. His physical stature. He's…
When asked about the Rangers' 2026 first-round draft choice following the end of the preseason, Sullivan said, "A lot of his game is impressive. His quiet confidence. He defends really well with his stick. His reach is strong. He doesn't get outmuscled. And he's not afraid to make a play. He plays the game out there like he belongs."
Smits will enter Rangers record book with debut
Smits making the opening night roster is also a bit historic, and it will be the first time the Rangers have an 18-year-old defender on their roster since Dave Maloney back in 1974. Smits will also be one of the youngest players in team history overall. The Rangers' current TV analyst has raved about Smits all preseason, and was a fan of him getting more of a look.
Michael Del Zotto is one of the most recent youngsters to make the team on defense, and he was a recently turned 19 year old way back when in 2009 when he made the opening night roster. Selected No. 20 overall in 2008, Del Zotto tallied eight goals, 28 assists, and 37 points in 80 games while averaging 18:58 a night for the Blueshirts. His second season was a bit disapointing, and his third and final full season saw him finish with 10-31-41 in 77 games.
Smits, if the preseason line holds, will be paired with Braden Schneider, and it will be an interesting duo to start. Given Smits' importance to the future of the organization, there's always a chance the Rangers mix things up to find the right fit for the budding blueliner. In any case, Smits making the team out of training camp is an exciting development, and just one more thing for fans to look forward to with hockey all but officially back.
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