Younglings Standing Out in the NY Rangers 2026 Training Camp?

Tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. EST, the New York Rangers' 2026 preseason begins with a game against the New Jersey Devils. Until then, training camp continues for the Blueshirts, and the youngsters have definitely been putting in the work for a spot on the roster. A few scrimmages later, you can see how hungry this Rangers team looks to come into the season after a horrific 25-26 campaign. While a simple day of training may not mean much in a regular-season game, these youngsters are certainly standing out as part of their teams' 26-27 campaign.

Matt Rempe

Sidelined for most of the 25-26 season with a broken thumb, Matt Rempe has come through training camp with plenty of zip and is looking for a part to play in the coming season. Suffering the injury on October 23rd last year after a fight with Ryan Reaves in a 6-5 loss against the San Jose Sharks, his broken thumb caused a significant problem when gripping his stick upon his return. After a second procedure, the 24-year-old missed the rest of the regular season after just 26 games played, and he’s certainly looking for a chance to show he’s still worthy of the MSG ice. The young power forward has shown in a few scrimmages that his stickhandling remains solid, along with his physicality and passion, as he spent most of training going at it with Marc Del Gaizo. A little more passion seems to be exactly what this Rangers team could use, but the question remains for Rempe: can he at last stay out of the penalty box?

Tye Kartye

Claimed off waivers by the Blueshirts on February 27th, Tye Kartye proved himself as a versatile addition. In 24 games as a New York Ranger, he recorded five goals and nine assists as a bottom-six forward, while also contributing defensively and physically. Unlike Rempe, Kartye is very much expected to slot into the Rangers' lineup on opening night, and has certainly shown why so far in training camp. Showing off his hustle and ability to capitalize on takeaways, the former Kraken has scored two goals in three scrimmages. The bottom six are always the players you hope to count on, and with Kartye likely to skate on the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Jaroslav Chmelař, the Rangers may have themselves another quiet double-digit goal scorer.

Alberts Šmits

The kid most Rangers fans hope to see on the ice in MSG this season has had himself some pretty positive days. Over the last two days of training, Albert Šmits has shown his new team he can stay calm and turn up ice. Head coach Mike Sullivan has made it clear the 2026 fifth overall pick can earn a spot on opening night. Some impressive skating plus a goal on the backhand gives the rookie a strong case, though if slotted into the third pairing with Braden Schneider, it may not be the best idea for his development. As impressive as his training camp may be, more time on the ice in the AHL is always better for development than limited time in the NHL. Regardless, the Latvian prospect skates through training camp looking ready for an NHL spot, a positive sign for the New York Rangers.