Alberts Smits has a genuine path onto the New York Rangers' opening night roster, and head coach Mike Sullivan isn't hiding it.
"Yes, he has a chance to make the team," Sullivan said Wednesday. "We're impressed with his game."
Smits, the No. 5 overall pick this year, is already built like an NHL player at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
Sullivan pointed to his path through European professional leagues and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics as real preparation, not just junior hockey polish.
Director of player personnel John Lilley called his ceiling "really high," and it's easy to see why after his rough weekend still showed flashes worth building on.
Smits picked up two power play assists in the Rookie Series opener against Philadelphia, though he was also on the ice for all three Flyers goals in a 3-2 loss.
His puck management struggled early, but analyst Russ Cohen noted he improved as the game went on and physically dominated a battle against a Flyers prospect two years his senior.
Why the next 13 days matter more than usual
With just four preseason games and a shortened camp, Sullivan said "time is of the essence" for every player trying to earn a job, and that applies directly to Smits.
He's currently trying to leapfrog Matthew Robertson and Urho Vaakanainen for the left-side spot on New York's third pairing.
Robertson posted 18 points in 72 games last season, while Vaakanainen managed just 6 points in 34 games, giving Smits a real opening if he can string together consistent performances.
Cohen still believes a season in Hartford first would benefit Smits long-term, easing him into North American travel before any NHL call-up.
Sullivan sounded genuinely torn between two competing priorities. Getting Smits into the lineup as soon as possible, while also protecting his long-term development.
"His play will tell us where we think he fits," Sullivan said. That leaves the door open, but Smits still has to be the one who walks through it.
Will Alberts Smits make the Rangers' opening night roster?
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