- Rangers GM Chris Drury says the No. 5 pick already handled men’s pro hockey, the Olympics and the Worlds at 18
- Smits is the highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history, passing Zemgus Girgensons
- Read below for what Drury and player development boss Tanner Glass are saying about a straight jump to New York
The Rangers might not have to wait long on Alberts Smits.
New York took the 18-year-old defenseman fifth overall on June 26, and he showed up to development camp looking closer to NHL ready than most teenagers ever do. A jump straight to Broadway this fall is on the table.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury pointed to a resume that does not read like a typical draft pick’s when he told NHL.com what the team saw in him.
“There’s not many kids his age drafted who have played in two different men’s pro leagues, Olympics, World Championships. We’re excited where we got him. We hope he’s a rock-solid defenseman for the Rangers for the next 15 years.”
Watch Smits meet the media at Rangers development camp:
The size backs it up. Smits stands 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and he split last season between Finland’s Liiga and Munich in Germany’s DEL. He also suited up for Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics and the World Championship.
He already owns a piece of history too. Smits is the highest-drafted Latvian player ever, jumping past Zemgus Girgensons, who went 14th to Buffalo back in 2012.
Player development director Tanner Glass came away impressed by more than the frame. He was asked about the teenager’s feel for the game.
“Some of the detail to his game is certainly impressive and probably beyond his years. The way he surrounds the puck, the way he moves the puck, the way he kind of commands the ice. He has a commanding presence on the ice, which is really nice to see at that age.”
Take a look at what Smits brings on the ice:
Drury is not about to rush any of it. The GM who spent his summer telling rival teams to get lost on Adam Fox made clear the team will let Smits set his own pace.
“This is not a sprint for him.”
If Smits keeps this up through training camp, the Rangers will have a real decision to make on their blue line in September.
