Rangers' Alberts Smits Scores C+ in Debut | New York Rangers News

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It's November 1st. Alright, let's dive in on the New York Rangers and their rookie defenseman, Albert Smits. Where a month ended a season, and while the Rangers have improved from last year, they still got some work to do with their young players. They're looking to build on last place, and it's clear they want to be better this time around.

Smits, the fifth overall pick in the draft, hasn't noshed a point yet, which is pretty surprising for a guy seen as NHL ready. He snagged a C-plus grade from Hannah Stewart at Bleacher Report, which honestly might be a decent score considering his slow start. It's a tough league, and a lot of rookies struggle initially, so you gotta take that into account. He's been working on the third defensive pair with Braden Schneider, who's got his own future uncertainties. There's been chatter about Schneider possibly being traded, but for now, he's sticking around for at least a year. Gotta wonder if Schneider is really the best partner for Smits, though.

That's something to keep an eye on as the season unfolds. Smits is currently logging the fewest minutes of any blue liner on the squad. That's not ideal when you're trying to develop a young talent. The Rangers are going to have to find ways to get him on the ice more to really see what he can do.

So, with month 2 around the corner, it'll be interesting to see how they adjust and whether Smits can start making an impact. They need him to contribute if they want to keep building on this momentum. That's your New York Rangers News Today update. AI powered and always on.