Overview
- The New York Rangers announced on Wednesday that they signed defenseman Alberts Smits to a three-year entry-level contract, with salary and bonus details not yet disclosed.
- Smits was the Rangers’ fifth-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and became the highest-drafted player in Latvian history after being taken as the second defenseman in the top five.
- He finished the 2025–26 season with 13 points in 38 SM-liiga games for Jukurit and added regular-season and playoff production while on loan with EHC München in the DEL.
- Smits represented Latvia at the 2026 World Juniors (five points in five games) and was the only draft-eligible player on Latvia’s Olympic roster, giving him unusually deep international and men’s pro experience for an 18-year-old.
- Prospect analysts praise his 6-foot-3 size, mobility and puck skills and view him as a potential top-four NHL defenseman who could compete for an opening-night spot or be assigned to the AHL depending on roster needs and the eventual contract details.