Rangers select defenseman Alberts Smits with No. 5 pick in 2026 NHL Draft to fill need in retool
The New York Rangers have selected defenseman Alberts Smits with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
📍 How it ended
The New York Rangers selected defenseman Alberts Smits with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The team's draft activity included nine total picks, featuring several defensemen and back-to-back selections in the 6th round.
Epilogue added 40d ago, after coverage quieted.
What happened
The New York Rangers used their fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select defenseman Alberts Smits. The move is described as an effort to fill a specific need during a team retool.
Coverage from the New York Post, SNY, and The New York Times focuses on how Smits fits into the roster and the overall grading of the team's draft strategy. SNY reports that Smits expressed relief and satisfaction after being selected by the organization.
Further reports from Newsday, Yahoo Sports, and Sports Illustrated detail the Rangers' complete draft activity, which included a total of nine picks and several trades.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 49d ago.
Coverage (8)
- NY Rangers Add Depth With Back-to-Back Selections in 6th Round of NHL Draft Sports Illustrated · 50d ago
- NHL Draft: Meet the Rangers' 9 picks, including a handful of defensemen Newsday · 50d ago
- Rangers 2026 NHL Draft: Every pick and trade made by the Blueshirts SNY · 50d ago
- Alberts Smits relieved to land with Rangers in NHL Draft: ‘I’m glad it turned out this way’ SNY · 50d ago
- Complete List of 2026 NHL Draft Picks for NY Rangers Sports Illustrated · 50d ago
- Rangers 2026 NHL Draft: Every pick and trade made by the Blueshirts Yahoo Sports · 50d ago
- New York Rangers NHL Draft picks tracker: Grades, fits and analysis The New York Times · 50d ago
- Rangers select defenseman Alberts Smits with No. 5 pick in 2026 NHL Draft to fill need in retool New York Post · 50d ago broke it first
Questions people are asking
Who did the Rangers select with the No. 5 pick?
The Rangers selected defenseman Alberts Smits.
How many total picks did the Rangers make in the 2026 draft?
According to Newsday, the Rangers made nine picks.
What was Alberts Smits' reaction to being drafted by the Rangers?
Smits stated that he was glad it turned out this way.
The coverage curve
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
People, places & organizations
Topics
Related trends
Sabres games to stream on DAZN during 2026-27 season
DAZN is becoming the exclusive streaming platform for major New York sports teams and the Buffalo Sabres for the 2026-27 season.
Blackhawks reunite with Patrick Kane, signing him to two-year contract - Chicago Sun-Times
Patrick Kane has officially signed a two-year, $16 million contract to return to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Canes TV? Hurricanes to launch own sports network for 2026-27 season
The NHL and several teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, are shifting toward independent regional television and streaming networks.
Flyers host rival to open 2026-27 regular season in September (!)
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to launch their 2026-27 NHL campaign with a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Schneider signs 1-year, $5.5 million contract with Rangers
The New York Rangers have secured defenseman Braden Schneider on a one-year, $5.5 million contract, successfully bypassing a scheduled arbitration hearing.
Peyton Krebs signs four-year contract with Sabres, avoids arbitration
Forward Peyton Krebs has signed a four-year contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres, bypassing a scheduled arbitration hearing.