Rangers To Carry Alberts Smits On Opening Night Roster

The New York Rangers have informed 18-year-old defenseman Alberts Smits that he has made the team's opening night roster. Selected fifth overall in the 2026 draft, Smits becomes the first Rangers draft pick to break camp in his post-draft season since Alexis Lafrenière in 2020. Smits earned his spot after recording an assist and a +2 rating across three preseason contests.

Smits skated alongside Braden Schneider on the third pairing during training camp. With the Rangers planning to carry eight defensemen, the Latvian blue-liner is expected to rotate on the bottom pairing with Matthew Robertson and Scott Morrow early in the regular season.