Alberts Smits was a little stressed waiting to be picked in Friday’s NHL Draft — as expected.
The 18-year-old defenseman didn’t have to sit around too long, though, as the Rangers made him the highest selected Latvian in NHL history when they took him with the fifth overall pick.
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“I was stressed and excited at the same time,” Smits admitted. “Once my name got called I was feeling happy and relief — I’m glad that it turned out this way.”
Smits is a towering, physical blueliner who brings a heavy two-way game.
While he may not possess the upside and potential of some of his fellow draft prospects, he has widely been considered one of the most polished and NHL-ready players in the entire class.
The youngster showcased that as he spent most of last season completing against men in Finland’s top pro league, and some of the worlds top talent at both World Juniors and the Olympics.
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“It certainly was a factor,” Director of Amateur Scouting John Lilley said. “His body of work this year at every level — handling himself as well as he did and thriving in hostile environments certainly helped his cause.”
While neither side is looking to rush things, Smits could find himself joining the Blueshirts before long.
New York is expected to finalize his entry-level contract in the near future, and he could be out on the ice with his new teammates when they kick off training camp later this summer.
“I’m just living in this moment right now,” Smits emphasized. “I’m happy that I ended up being taken by such a good organization, so we’ll see how things are going to turn out.”
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