Alberts Šmits becomes highest-drafted Latvian hockey player

Latvian defenseman Alberts Šmits was selected fifth overall by the New York Rangers in the 2026 National Hockey League (NHL) draft. The 18-year-old has become the highest-drafted Latvian in history.

Alberts Šmits became the highest-drafted Latvian in history in the NHL draft. The record previously belonged to the current Tampa Bay Lightning forward, who was selected 14th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012. He became the 11th player in history to be selected in the first round after participating in the Olympics, and the first in history to participate in the Olympics with NHL hockey players before his draft.

Before the draft, there were various predictions about Alberts Šmits. For example, ESPN's published prospect rankings predicted the Latvian to be 16th overall, which would result in Šmits going to the St. Louis Blues. In turn, in the draft simulation published by the NHL, both invited experts assigned the Latvian a place in the top ten.

NHL Central Scouting Office Director Dan Mars pointed to Schmidt as one of the brightest representatives of his position in this year's draft. "Albert Schmidt emerged as one of the outstanding young defensemen in the 2026 NHL Draft," Mars said. "Albert has talent, and his fighting spirit and character, which he demonstrated in every game, allowed him to earn this year's IJ McGuire Award of Excellence."

Schmidt will not be the first Latvian representative in the ranks of the New York Rangers. In the ninth round of the 2001 NHL Draft, forward Juris Štāls was selected with the 269th pick, who never made his debut in the strongest league in the world. Meanwhile, legendary defenseman Sandis Ozoliņš played 40 games for the Rangers in less than two seasons, scoring 17 points.

18-year-old Alberts Šmits became a first-choice player for the Finnish top-flight club Mikkeli "Jukurit" at the beginning of the season, but finished the season with the Munich club, gaining experience in the German championship playoffs. In addition, he won his place in the adult Latvian national team this year, participating in the Milan Olympic Games, the World Championship in Zurich and also the U-20 World Championship, where he earned five points in five games.