Alberts Šmits is officially a New York Ranger. The team announced that they have agreed on a three-year, entry-level contract with their 18-year-old. Smits had been the 2026 fifth-overall NHL Entry Draft selection. Let’s discuss the details.
Credit Image: © Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via ZUMA Press Wire
Officially a Blueshirt 🤝
We've agreed to terms with defenseman Alberts Smits on a three-year, entry-level contract → https://t.co/cEtYc31oSJ pic.twitter.com/vQXaz4eJNE
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 15, 2026
Alberts Šmits Entry-Level Contract
Alberts Šmits became the highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history, surpassing Zemgus Girgensons, who went 14th overall back in 2012. The New York Rangers decision to take Šmits over big names like Chase Reid seemed to convey a lot about the team’s vision for their future. General manager Chris Drury appeared to have taken the most NHL-ready player on the board with hopes of getting an impact player to add to his retooling roster immediately.
Šmits Has Been Producing Against Men Already
Šmits has already grinded out minutes against NHL talent across multiple events, showing off his talent. Last season, he spent most of his time in the Finnish Liiga. In 38 games, Šmits posted 13 points (six goals, seven assists) while regularly playing around 20 minutes a night. He also played for Latvia at both the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2026 IIHF World Championship, both consisting of high NHL talent and playoff-like games.
Alberts Šmits Role Looking Ahead
Šmits arrives at a New York Rangers squad that is completely revamped. Between trading for Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, moving on from Will Borgen, and re-signing Braden Schneider to a one-year prove-it deal, New York has completely retooled its defensive core this summer. However, because of this, Šmits now joins a crowded group that includes Matthew Robertson, Scott Morrow, and Vincent Iorio, who are all competing for spots on the blueline behind the established core.
The future for Šmits right now is very unclear and will depend a lot on how the Rangers assess his ability in training camp. They may decide to ease him into North American hockey through the AHL first before exposing him to the bright light of Madison Square Garden. However, fans may make the case that forcing him to play AHL minutes will hinder his ability to develop to his full potential as a full-time NHL player. Only time will tell what Chris Drury’s decision will be at the end of the preseason regarding Alberts Šmits’ roster position in the New York Rangers organization.
Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
