Alberts Šmits Ready For The ‘Start Of A Long Journey’ After Making Rangers' Roster

"Yeah, obviously," Šmits said of whether he expected to make the team. "That's why I came here."

When the Rangers selected Šmits with the fifth-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, they touted him as the most pro-ready defenseman in the draft class.

Šmits is proving that to be true so far, as he made the Rangers ' opening-night roster out of training camp after an impressive two-week showing and will be in the lineup for New York's first regular-season game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, officially beginning his professional hockey career.