Smits Ready to Shine for Rangers | New York Rangers News

Corey (0:00)

It's September 14th. This is New York Rangers News Today, powered by AI Everything happening with your team. I'm Corey with the story. The New York Rangers are gearing up for the upcoming season, and they've been busy making moves. They're aiming to improve both for the present and the future, which is a tough balancing act. They've been focused on beefing up their prospect pool, bringing in young talent through the draft and trades, even when it meant parting with some valuable draft picks.

One prospect in particular is getting a lot of buzz. Alberts Smits, their fifth overall pick from the 2026 NHL draft, is looking like he might be NHL ready right out of the gate. He's got experience playing in major leagues and even suited up for the Olympics, making him one of the most polished prospects in his draft class. The team also made some significant upgrades to their defense this summer. They brought in Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi to bolster their second defensive pairing, addressing a major weakness from last season. They've clearly prioritized depth on the blue line, and Smits could be a key piece of that puzzle. Right now, the third defensive pairing on the left side looks like an open spot, and Smits has a real shot at claiming it. While there are other players competing for that role, if he proves he's ready, the Rangers seem inclined to give him a chance in the NHL.

While the Rangers have other promising prospects like Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin, Smits appears to have the clearest path to a starting position, and might be the most prepared to step in immediately.