Латвийн хамгаалагч Альбертс Шмитс нь Нью-Йорк Рейнжерс клубийн ирээдүйн шилдэг тоглогчдын чансаанд нэгдүгээрт бичигдлээ.
2026 оны NHL-ийн драфтын 5-аар сонгогдсон 18 настай хамгаалагч Альбертс Шмитс нь мэргэжлийн түвшинд тоглосон арвин туршлагаараа бусдаас ялгарч байна. Тэрээр Финландын Юкурит болон Германы ЭХЦ Мюнхен багуудад тоглохоос гадна Латвийн шигшээ багийн бүрэлдэхүүнд дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээн, Миланы олимпод оролцсон билээ. Нью-Йорк Рейнжерсийн удирдлагууд түүнийг бие бялдрын өндөр хөгжил, тоглолтын төлөвшсөн байдал, хамгаалалтын найдвартай ажиллагаагаараа багийнхаа хамгийн ирээдүйтэй тоглогч хэмээн үнэлсэн байна.
Альбертс Шмитс нь өөрийн байрлалдаа өрсөлдөгчдөөсөө илүү NHL-д тоглоход бэлэн байгааг мэргэжилтнүүд онцолж байгаа юм. Хэдийгээр зарим ажиглагчид түүнийг шууд NHL-д тоглох чадвартай гэж үзэж байгаа ч багийн зүгээс хөгжлийн явцыг нь алдагдуулахгүй байх үүднээс AHL-ийн Хартфорд багт тоглох хувилбарыг ч үгүйсгээгүй байна. Багийн ерөнхийлөгч Крис Друри тоглогчийн урт хугацааны хөгжилд анхаарч, яаруу алхам хийхгүй гэдгээ мэдэгдлээ.
Энэхүү шинэ чансаанд Альбертс Шмитсээс гадна Лиам Гринтрий, Коул Бодуэн, Малколм Спенс зэрэг залуучууд эхний байруудад эрэмбэлэгджээ. Өмнөх жилүүдийн шилдэг тоглогчид болох Габе Перролт, Ноа Лаба, Скотт Морроу нар нь NHL-ийн шинэ гэрээний нөхцөл болон бусад шалгуураар энэ удаагийн жагсаалтад багтаагүй байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
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Editor’s note:For the second consecutive year,The Athletic’s Vincent Z. Mercogliano and Peter Baugh are doing a series ranking the New York Rangers’ top 10 prospects. The order is based on detailed analysis of the organizational pipeline, along with conversations with evaluators, coaches and many of the players themselves. The aim is to balance where each prospect is on his development path while weighing projected upside over time.
Only prospects who maintain rookie eligibility and are yet to reach their second contract are included, bumping previously ranked players such as Noah Laba, Scott Morrow andlast year’s No. 1 Gabe Perreaultout of consideration.
Each of the top 10 were profiled in a series of stories that began Aug. 24.
Alberts Šmits showed up in New York days after the Rangers took him at No. 5 in the 2026 NHL Draft, not with the look of an excitable 18-year-old but rather with the stoicism of a player who had little interest in congratulatory back-slapping.
Speaking to media at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, N.Y., in early July, the Latvian defenseman was all business. He declined to reveal his summer plans, and similarly deflected questions about specific areas where he could improve and welcome messages he had received from new teammates.
It came as no surprise to those who’ve worked closely with the Rangers’ new No. 1 prospect.
“He’s reserved by nature,” said Oliver David, who coached Šmits during a 16-game stint with Germany’s EHC München to end last season. “He carries himself in a serious manner. He seemed mature beyond his years in his personal life and in his game style.”
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The Rangers appreciate Šmits’ workmanlike attitude, but it’s his no-nonsense play that made him the No. 1 defenseman prospect on their board in a loaded draft class. At least five D were in the conversation, but New York passed on several of them — notably Carson Carels (No. 6 to the Calgary Flames) and Chase Reid (No. 7 to the Seattle Kraken) — in favor of Šmits. They pinpointed the 6-foot-3, 209-pounder because of his high floor and high ceiling.
“We have a process that we go through and build a list throughout the year,” said director of amateur scouting John Lilley. “Alberts, to us, was the top player out of that grouping.”
‘A commanding presence’
Šmits’ relative plethora of professional hockey experience takes away some of the projection required when evaluating his peers. He’s played parts of two seasons for Jukurit in Finland’s Liiga, considered one of the best leagues in the world, as well as the aforementioned stint with EHC München in Germany’s top league. He’s also represented Latvia at the World Juniors, the World Championships and the 2026 Milan Olympics.
Rather than wonder how he’ll fare against the best players in the world, executives and scouts simply had to watch the film.
“There’s not many kids his age drafted who have played in two different men’s pro leagues, Olympics (and) World Championships,” Rangers team president Chris Drury said. “It certainly doesn’t get any bigger stages than those events he participated in.”
That led to a prevailing narrative heading into this year’s draft: Among the highly rated defensemen, Šmits was the most NHL-ready. It’s hard to dispute that claim, but that isn’t a slight against his talent or upside either.
“He’s a pretty complete package,” said director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr, who thought there was a case for Šmits to be the first defenseman selected and a top-three pick overall. (Instead, the first blueliner off the board was Daxon Rudolph, to the Buffalo Sabres at No. 4.)
Šmits’ performance at the Olympics was especially compelling. He had no trouble keeping pace, using his long strides and impressive reach to close gaps quickly, defend the high-danger areas and create takeaways. He glided around with poise that belied his age.
“He’s got some habits that you see in people that are much more mature,” said Rangers director of player development Tanner Glass. “The way he surrounds the puck, the way he moves the puck, the way he kind of commands the ice — he’s confident in his abilities and he’s got a commanding presence.”
Šmits never looked overmatched in Milan, with his crunching open-ice hit on Team USA captain Auston Matthews serving as a highlight. He downplayed it, saying, “That was just one moment in the game.” But it spoke to his never-back-down demeanor.
“He’s definitely a bit of a prick,” said a Western Conference scout, meaning it as a compliment while speaking anonymously to offer a candid evaluation. “He’s nasty and he’s big and he moves well.”
That combination of mobility, length and assertiveness fuels belief that Šmits can be a shutdown NHL defender. There’s some debate about his scoring potential, with the scout saying, “I don’t know if there’s a huge puck upside there.” But an Eastern Conference scout pushed back on that notion, comparing Šmits to Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who’s registered three seasons of 53 points or more in his nine-year career.
“Latvia has to defend a lot in international competition, so he doesn’t get to show his offense that much until they play easy opponents,” the Eastern Conference scout, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to be candid, said. “Last year at the U-18s, he was a stud. … That’s when he showed (his offense). He’s got enough of it.”
Šmits registered a modest 13 points (six goals and seven assists) in 38 games for Jukurit, but he was a point-per-game player the previous season on their U-18 team. Then he began the 2025-26 campaign by racking up 10 points (six goals and four assists) in five games for their U-20 team before earning a promotion to the men’s club.
Few see Šmits as a power-play quarterback or major point producer in the NHL, but his left-handed shot is graded as “high-end” by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and he’s shown an eagerness to transport pucks in rush situations. Those skills should at least give him a solid offensive floor to go along with a high defensive ceiling.
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‘What’s best for the kid?’
There’s no doubt that Rangers’ undisputed top prospect will arrive on Broadway sooner rather than later, but whether that’s on opening night or beyond is the subject of intrigue.
Šmits signed his entry-level contract in July and will enter training camp with a legitimate shot to make the roster. Multiple scouts believe he could hold his own if he jumps straight to the NHL, but a little time with AHL Hartford could help ease the transition.
“He might be able to make your team right away, but is that what’s best for the kid?” asked a second Eastern Conference scout. “I look at players his age, and even though he’s physically mature and could maybe come in and survive, I think it’s way better to hone your craft and become a better player (in the AHL). Get more puck touches, play in all situations, and just have more opportunity playing at a level where there’s less pressure to basically win every night.”
The scout pointed to the recent hiring of Hartford coach Jay Leach, who brings a strong reputation for working with young players, as another potential benefit. Leach and his staff will be tasked with fostering a better development environment than the Wolf Pack have offered in recent years; out of this year’s top 10 prospects in the Rangers’ organization, six are candidates to open on the AHL roster.
Drury has suggested that using Hartford as a stepping stone is a serious possibility, with the offseason acquisition of veteran left-handed defenseman Marcus Pettersson lessening the need to rush Šmits to the NHL. Then again, Šmits’ rapid trajectory may dictate otherwise once the Rangers get an up-close look at camp.
“We think he’s obviously a terrific prospect, but with that said, we’re gonna do right by him and the long-term health and well-being of him as a Ranger,” Drury said. “This is not a sprint for him. We hope he’s a rock-solid defenseman for the Rangers for the next 15 years. We’re not going to put him in any positions or situations that he can’t handle. So, we’re excited to add him, but again, we’re not going to do anything that’s not in the best interest long-term.”
— Peter Baugh contributed to this report.
Альбертс Шмитс одоо NFL-д явах уу, эсвэл чамд хамгийн их итгэл төрүүлсэн залуу тоглогч бол? Түүний ур чадвар, туршлага нь үнэхээр гайхмаар санагдаж байна, гэхдээ багийн стратеги хэрхэн нөлөөлөх бол? Таны бодлоор, тэр ирээдүйд NHL-ийн хамгийн шилдэг хамгаалагч болох уу?