Rangers Draft Šmits as Blue Line Anchor

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On June 27th, the New York Rangers made a big move at the NHL draft, picking defenseman Alberts Šmits with the fifth overall selection.
This kid is already ranked as the second best international skater by NHL Central Scouting, so the hype is real.
He's a big dude, six foot three and over 200 pounds, and scouts are saying he's got serious wheels and a smart game. He's being talked about as potentially the most NHL ready defenseman in this draft class. That's a huge statement, especially considering he was the youngest player at the recent Winter Olympics representing Latvia. He even put up two assists in four games over there, playing significant minutes. The consensus is that Mitz brings a lot to the table.
He's got the size and the skating to be a lockdown defender, but he also has an offensive upside. They're talking about him having a big shot from the point and being able to make that crucial first pass out of the zone. He's not just potential either. In Finland's top league, he put up 6 goals and 7 assists in 38 games. That's solid production from a young defenseman in a tough league. So, the Rangers are betting big on Mitz to be a cornerstone on their blue line for years to come. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can make the jump and start contributing at the professional level. That's the story for today. New York Rangers News Today, driven by AI.