The Rangers spent the offseason trying to toughen up the blue line, and Alberts Smits may end up being the most revealing piece of that plan.
New York added Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson to help a defense that has been ordinary for too long, but the bigger swing came in the 2026 NHL Draft, when Chris Drury and company used the fifth overall pick on Smits. That choice was about more than next season. It was about building something sturdier for the future, and it instantly made the young defenseman one of the most intriguing players in camp.
Smits arrives with real momentum after a strong year in Europe. In 38 games in Liiga, the top league in Finland, he put up six goals and seven assists for 13 points.
He also spent time with ECH Munchen in Germany’s DEL, where he recorded an assist in five regular-season games and then turned up the heat in the playoffs with two goals and four assists in 11 games. For a defenseman, that kind of production stands out.
What makes him even more interesting is the way scouts have talked about his readiness. Because he has already played in multiple pro leagues across Europe, some view him as one of the more NHL-ready players in this draft class.
The upside is easy to see: physical, hard to play against, and capable of giving the Rangers a real edge on the back end. In the right setting, he could be a strong third-pairing option and eventually push into the top six.
But projection only gets you so far. The NHL is a different animal, and the Rangers have seen how badly that can go when a young player is rushed. Lias Andersson, the No. 7 overall pick in 2017, is the cautionary tale hanging over this discussion.
That’s why this preseason matters so much for Smits. It’s the first real chance to see how his game translates against NHL talent, not just against lower-level competition or scouting reports.
If he handles the pace and the physical demands without looking overwhelmed, he could put himself in line to see MSG later this season. If not, the safer route would be to send him back overseas for another year.
The AHL is technically in play, but that path brings its own risk. Keeping him that close would make it easier to call him up the moment an opening appears, and that may not be the smartest move if the Rangers want to protect his development.
So this preseason is about more than exhibition hockey. It’s the first major checkpoint in figuring out whether Smits is ready to join the Rangers’ blue line now, or whether the organization needs to wait. That decision could shape his season, and it’s going to be one of the biggest things to watch.
In Other News...
Rangers Enter Camp With One Huge Question About This New Core
The Rangers open a shortened training camp with a lot more new faces and a lot fewer familiar answers. After a busy stretch that brought changes in ownership, management and the roster, Mike Sullivan is taking over a group that also has to move on from key departures like Artemi Panarin and Jonathan Quick while trying to make room for additions such as Marcus Pettersson and Joonas Korpisalo.
Sullivans first real challenge is figuring out how all of it fits together before the games start to count. The forward combinations are still being sorted out, and the blue line has its own reshuffling to do, with the Rangers trying to settle into a look that can get them back to the playoffs. For a team built around a new core, camp may be short, but the questions are anything but. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Backup Goalie Decision Is Already Stirring Up Fan Debate
The Rangers offseason goalie picture is already a source of frustration for a segment of the fan base, and it is easy to see why. The team moved to bring in veteran Joonas Korpisalo as the backup to Igor Shesterkin, a decision that immediately raised questions about both the price of the deal and what it means for a prospect like Dylan Garand, who had seemed to be working his way toward a bigger role in the organization.
Korpisalos recent performance has only added to the skepticism, while Garands situation has become more complicated as the roster picture tightens up. He is no longer waiver-exempt, which means the Rangers cannot simply shuffle him down without consequence if they want to carry him through camp, and that gives the backup battle a little more intrigue than a routine insurance move usually brings. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face A Big Gabe Perreault Decision Fans Will Debate
With the NHL deadline for eight-year contract extensions nearing, Gabe Perreault has become one of the more intriguing names in the Rangers prospect pipeline. Several other young players in the organization have already committed long term, but Perreault has not joined that group, leaving his next contract very much an open question as he continues to track toward a bigger role in the league.
Per beat reporter Peter Baugh, no extension talks have taken place so far, which only adds to the sense that Perreault may prefer to let his situation play out a bit longer. As a restricted free agent next summer, he stands to gain from the expected rise in the salary cap, and that potential leverage is part of what makes this one worth watching closely for the Rangers. [Read more 🡒]