Alberts Smits didn't get eased into anything Saturday night, and that tells you exactly how the New York Rangers view their top pick.
The Rangers prospects dropped a 3-2 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers at PPL Center, their first game action in five months.
Smits, the No. 5 overall pick, was on the ice for all five goals scored. Two power play goals for New York, three even-strength tallies for Philly.
Hartford coach Jay Leach ran the rookie bench and used Smits everywhere. Even strength, top penalty kill unit, and power play.
Smits picked up two assists, setting up Dylan Roobroeck's deflection goal and Nathan Aspinall's snipe that cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third.
Aspinall broke out with 33 goals and 94 points in the OHL last season, and his shot past goalie Carson Bjarnason looked every bit like a real finisher.
New York finished 2-for-3 on the power play, relying on the man advantage the same way the varsity roster has for years now.
The rough patch that still needs cleaning up
Smits played aggressive and physical from his first shift, but his puck play wasn't always crisp. He turned the puck over more than once.
Neither Smits nor defense partner Drew Fortescue were in position when Philadelphia's second goal went in late in the second period.
Fortescue struggled on his off side too, doubling up on a rush that left Flyers forward Alex Bump wide open for the eventual game-winner.
Goalie Callum Tung kept New York in the game with a strong second period, stopping all but one shot while getting badly outshot 14-4.
Tung split time between Hartford and Bloomington last season, and he'll likely see a similar split again if Dylan Garand and Spencer Martin open with Hartford.
Round two of this series goes Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, with third-round pick Danai Shaiikov expected to start in net for New York.
Smits flashed real ability and real rawness in the same 60 minutes. Whether that gap closes fast enough to make Boston's opening night roster is still very much unresolved.
Will Alberts Smits make the Rangers opening night roster this season?
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