A goal for the New York Rangers this offseason was making the blue line stronger. They wanted to improve a defensive unit that has been average at best these past few seasons. That's a big reason why they brought in guys like Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson. But Chris Drury and company did not just want to improve their defense for this upcoming season, but for the future as well. That's why they selected Alberts Smits with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With so much hope about Smits being a main piece of the Rangers' future, he is one of the most interesting guys to watch this preseason.
What can Alberts Smits prove during the preseason?
Smits is coming off a very successful season in the Liiga, the highest level of hockey in Finland. In 38 games, he racked up six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He was also loaned to ECH Munchen of the DEL in Germany. Although he appeared in only five regular-season games, registering an assist, he was a force in the playoffs. In 11 playoff games, he logged two goals and four assists for six points. Solid production from a defenseman.
With Smits playing in multiple professional leagues across Europe, he was seen as one of the most pro-ready players in this draft class. Some scouts even believe he could find himself on an NHL roster at some point this season. With his physicality and ability to be a shutdown opponent, he would be a welcome addition to the Rangers' top six. He could be a strong third-pairing option who gives the team a physical edge.
Alberts Šmits and Adam Sýkora were battling through this shift, with Šmits showing his strength but Sýkora hanging tough. #NYR pic.twitter.com/H9pQrGmqn7
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 11, 2026
But the only issue is we do not know how Smits will adjust to the NHL. Sure scouts believe he is NHL ready, but that is just based on projections and how he has played at lower levels. Similar claims and assumptions were made about Lias Andersson, the No. 7 overall for the Rangers back in 2017, and that famously didn't go well for the Rangers.
Asked Jeff Gorton point blank what went wrong with the #NYR and Lias Andersson:
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) October 7, 2020
“When you take a guy that high, you hope he has an impact sooner than later. At this point of his career, it's hard to say. Maybe we brought him over too soon. I don't know.” (1/2)
There is no guarantee you can stick Smits in a NHL lineup tomorrow and have him be productive. The best way to judge how ready he is, is to see how he preforms against NHL talent. Which is what the preseason will offer. It will be a good test to see where he is in his development, and help the Rangers make the best overall decision for his immediate future.
There are two paths he could go down. The first one is that he plays well. He shows during camp and the preseason that he can handle the physicality of the NHL game and does not look overmatched on the ice. In this case, we could expect Smits to take the ice at MSG later this season. But if he struggles or looks lost on the ice, it's a sign to keep him overseas for the whole season.
Let him play in Liiga again and bring him back next season when he is more physically developed. The AHL is technically an option too, but having him that close would create temptation to promote him the minute an opportunity opens up, and that may not be the best idea.
This will be one of the biggest storylines to monitor throughout the preseason. It will be interesting to see which path the Rangers choose with Smits.
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