Will the Rangers 2026 Fifth Overall Pick Be Ready for the NHL?
The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft is now behind us, and Ranger fans needed a moment to process an unexpected result. Fans remained optimistic that the Blueshirts could move up at the very last second, but as the clock struck 7:00 p.m. EST, the Rangers remained locked at five. With the obvious first two chosen by Toronto and San Jose, an unexpected choice from Buffalo left New York with the option to select Chase Reid. An obvious choice, as plenty of Ranger fans assumed, but there was another defenseman who caught Drury’s attention. With the fifth overall pick, the New York Rangers land 18-year-old Alberts Šmits, a Latvian defenseman who shows no hesitation to defend his teammates, someone the Blueshirts for sure need. Not only that, but this prospect appears to be the most NHL-ready defenseman in this draft.
Born in Latvia, Šmits went on to become the highest drafted Latvian in NHL history. Moving away from his hometown at just 13, the Latvian defenseman went on to train and play junior hockey in Finland. He progressed rapidly to Finland's top pro league, Liiga, recording 13 points in 38 games for Jukurit during the 2025-26 season. After the 2026 fifth overall pick’s junior/pro season, he was loaned to EHC Red Bull München, where he tallied six points in 11 playoff games. As one of the youngest players to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Šmits suited up for Team Latvia and tallied two assists in four games, bolstering his draft stock. Given his impressive resume, does the left-handed defenseman get his chance on NHL opening night?
As frustrating as it sounds for New York fans with Reid wide open for the taking, Šmits looks to be a defenseman who fits Mike Sullivan's system. While the six-foot-three defenseman has the physical tools, the New York Rangers have made it clear they won’t rush his development. There’s a chance he’ll start in the AHL or be given time in training camp to see if he can immediately lock in a spot on the ice. With the experience the young Latvian has gained working with top-tier professionals, he has several factors to support his readiness for this Fall.
Šmits has played heavy minutes in Finland’s top league and has seen playoff action in the German DEL for München. Not only that, but he’s been scouted as a player with reliable control, robust physical play, and aggressive forechecking, a combination that may translate very well to the NHL pace. As the Rangers are expected to sign his entry-level contract soon, the Latvia native looks to work with Ben Prentiss in Connecticut to prepare for training camp. While fans would love to see him step in as soon as possible this coming season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a balanced approach, having him play full-time minutes by 2027-28. The pick has been made, and whether fans are satisfied or not, Alberts Šmits is their guy. Will he begin in the AHL, or is this a defenseman who has more than earned his place on opening night?
