Alberts Smits Rising Star for 2026 NHL Draft

Eighteen-year-old defenseman Alberts Smits is dominating the 2026 NHL Draft conversation after stellar performances for Latvia in the Olympics and World Championship, where he contributed key assists and logged heavy ice time alongside NHL veterans. Standing 6’3” and weighing 209 pounds, Smits already excels in top European leagues and is ranked second among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting. His maturity—having lived independently since age 13—fuels his relentless development, and scouts rave about his smooth skating, hockey IQ, and seamless transition from defense to offense. Signed through 2027, Smits is focused on mastering his game before making the NHL leap—not rushing it. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7dc03b858d5801d7