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Alberts Smits
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SEA· Sat Nov 7Game preview →2026-27 season
- GP
- 17
- G
- 0
- A
- 0
- PTS
- 0
- +/-
- -2
- PPP
- 0
- SOG
- 8
- TOI/G
- 14:34
Game log
| Date | Opp | Result | G | A | PTS | +/- | SOG | TOI | HIT | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | vs PHI | W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13:24 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 3 | vs STL | W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 13:18 | 0 | 1 |
| Nov 1 | vs EDM | L 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 15:24 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct 26 | vs LAK | L 3-6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 13:54 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 24 | @OTT | L 4-7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 13:24 | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 22 | @TOR | L 4-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 12:24 | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 19 | vs ANA | W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16:00 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 17 | @CBJ | L 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 14:48 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 15 | @NJD | L 1-7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 17:00 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 13 | vs TBL | W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 11:54 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 11 | vs VAN | W 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 17:30 | 1 | 0 |
| Oct 9 | @WSH | L 1-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 14:24 | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 6 | vs NYI | W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 15:24 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 4 | vs UTA | W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 16:12 | 0 | 2 |
| Oct 2 | @DET | W 2-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:24 | 1 | 0 |
| Oct 1 | vs TBL | W 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 0 | 14:12 | 2 | 1 |
| Sep 29 | @BOS | L 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 16:54 | 2 | 1 |
Latest news
Head coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday that Smits has a chance to make the team during training camp, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
Sullivan said that Smits seems as though he's physically ready to handle the NHL, but the team will consider the big picture when determining where the 18-year-old will begin the 2026-27 campaign. Smits was the fifth overall pick by the Rangers in the 2026 NHL Draft, and he recorded six goals, seven assists and 20 PIM across 38 regular-season appearances with Jukurit in Liiga last year.
RotoWire via ESPN · Sep 16
Smits signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Wednesday.
Smits had six goals and 13 points in 38 regular-season appearances with Jukurit of the Finnish league in 2025-26. The Rangers took him with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft. It remains to be seen if Smits will immediately transition to North American hockey, but he could at least get a long look during the Rangers' training camp.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jul 15
Smits was the fifth overall pick by the New York Rangers in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Smits is going to challenge Sandis Ozolins as the best Latvian to ever play in the NHL. The latter won a Cup and played in seven All-Star games as an offensive defender. Smits is a better all-around defender whose maturity, mobility and snarl at just 18 years old already profiles him as an elite modern, transitional defender. He has pro size, a great stick and one heck of a shot. Think Jakob Chychrun-type hammer. Smits' elite mobility for a big man will eventually put him on the Rangers' top pair. There's some parallel to Moritz Seider's game in Smits, especially in their draft-year ascensions and their size/snarl combos. Smits might not excel immediately like Seider, but never say never. Smits could ultimately be the best defender in the 2026 class.
RotoWire via ESPN · Jun 26