Alberts Smits is about to get a real taste of the NHL spotlight.
The Rangers’ top prospect will make his preseason debut Tuesday night against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, with the 18-year-old stepping into a situation loaded with pressure. He is the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, he is trying to earn a place on the opening-night roster, and he’ll be doing it in front of a home crowd at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan’s message to him is meant to keep the moment from becoming too big.
“At the end of the day, you’re here for a reason, and it’s a hockey game, you’ve played a lot of them in your lifetime,” Sullivan relayed to reporters after the morning skate.
The Rangers, though, are not looking for a spotless performance. They know mistakes are coming, and they are more interested in how Smits responds when they do.
“We don’t expect him to be perfect out there, but what we’re hoping is that his intentions are in the right spot,” Sullivan explained. “I’m fairly certain he’s going to make some mistakes, most guys do, that’s the nature of the game.
For me, it’s how do you react to it. Are you able to learn from it, move by it, and continue to keep you confidence and just build your game?”
Smits has already shown flashes and rough edges in camp. In the Rookie Series game against Flyers prospects two weekends ago, he had some strong moments but also some difficult ones. He finished that 3-2 loss with a pair of power-play assists, while also being on the ice for all five goals.
Still, the Rangers have kept him with the veterans throughout camp, and that has been the clearest sign yet that they want to see what he can handle. He has worked beside Braden Schneider on the third defense pair every day, and he has practiced with the NHL group rather than the camp’s prospect-heavy and minor league group.
That setup says plenty about how New York views him. Smits is being treated like a player with real NHL upside, not just another young body in camp.
At the same time, the Rangers are not locked into carrying him if he is not ready. Matthew Robertson, who played 72 games as a rookie last season, remains the fallback option for the third defense pairing.
Tuesday’s game also gives Smits a chance to see another young defenseman who made the leap immediately. Across the ice will be Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, who stormed into the league as an 18-year-old last season.
The Rangers are not using that as a direct comparison, since the two players bring different skill sets. But it does underline the point: sometimes the right young player really can make the jump right away.
For now, though, this is Smits’ moment to show where he stands.
“We want him to have fun. We want him to play with energy and enthusiasm. We don’t want him to overthink it.”
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Rangers Preseason Debut Puts New Faces Under Immediate Pressure
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Several players will get their first crack in a Rangers sweater, including Pavel Dorofeyev, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen, while the rest of the lineup offers an early glimpse at how the coaching staff is sorting through combinations. There are still roster spots up for grabs, especially among the forwards, and the battle for those final openings is already underway with the preseason barely beginning. [Read more 🡒]