The Rangers have opened the door for Alberts Smits to claim a spot on the third defensive pairing, and the 18-year-old is making a strong early case to walk through it.
Smits was a bright spot in the Rangers’ otherwise disappointing 4-3 preseason loss to the Islanders on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Latvian defenseman delivered the primary assist on New York’s third goal and held his ground against an Islanders lineup featuring a heavy dose of NHL regulars.
“I felt pretty much comfortable at this speed,” Smits said after the Rangers surrendered a 3-0 lead when the Islanders scored three consecutive power-play goals.
Smits has worked on the left side of the third pair with Braden Schneider since training camp began.
New York is giving its 2026 fifth overall pick every opportunity to prove he can make the jump to the NHL. Looking comfortable in training camp is one thing; appearing composed and dependable in his first unofficial NHL game is another. Smits managed to do both.
Taylor Raddysh redirected a perfectly placed pass from Smits in the high slot, putting the Rangers ahead 3-0 just under 7 ¹/₂ minutes into the second period.
Smits stood up well in a physical, scrappy game. He battled effectively along the boards, showed no hesitation with the puck and finished with 15:29 of ice time, including 3:33 on the penalty kill.
“I thought he played well,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. Sullivan pointed to the physical demands of the NHL and said Smits had already answered one of the biggest questions facing a young defenseman. At 18, Smits has the size and strength to compete, win battles for loose pucks and withstand the league’s physical play. Sullivan also praised the awareness behind Smits’ assist on Raddysh’s goal, noting that the defenseman lifted his head and found the forward’s stick in the high slot.
Sullivan added that Smits defended with strong gaps, using his mobility, reach and long stick to make life difficult for opponents. The coach called it a strong performance and said the Rangers remain encouraged by what they have seen from the young defenseman.
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The Rangers have expanded the group of players who could strengthen the second power-play unit, but Sullivan does not anticipate an even split in ice time between the two units.
Sullivan said the second unit now presents a greater threat, but he expects the established top group to receive an extended opportunity. The core of that unit helped make the power play a major bright spot last season, and the coach believes continuing to lean on it gives the Rangers their best chance to win.
Sean Durzi, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen, Gabe Perreault and Liam Greentree formed the second power-play unit in Tuesday’s defeat.
Sullivan had no new information on forward Adam Sykora or defenseman Vincent Iorio, both of whom exited Monday’s game against the Devils with lower-body injuries.
Neither player practiced Tuesday, and both remained under evaluation.
Seven of the 20 Rangers in Tuesday’s lineup were offseason acquisitions, and six of those newcomers recorded at least one point in the loss.
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