Alberts Smits contributes assist in Rangers' preseason loss to Islanders

The New York Rangers faced the New York Islanders in their second exhibition game of the preseason on September 22, 2026, at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a 4-3 loss. Eighteen-year-old defenseman Alberts Smits, the Rangers' fifth overall pick in the 2026 draft, registered the primary assist on the team's third goal and demonstrated solid defensive skills against a lineup featuring several NHL players. Smits expressed confidence in his performance, stating he felt comfortable at the game's pace. He logged 15:29 of ice time, including 3:33 on the penalty kill. Head coach Mike Sullivan praised Smits for his physicality and ability to compete at the NHL level, noting his strong play and awareness during the game. The Rangers are evaluating their second power-play unit, with Sullivan indicating that the top unit will likely receive more ice time due to their previous success. Additionally, forward Adam Sykora and defenseman Vincent Iorio did not participate in the game due to lower-body injuries and were still under evaluation. Seven of the 20 Rangers players in the lineup were offseason acquisitions, with six contributing points in the game.