New York Rangers Mollie Walker The early evidence Rangers are finally all-in with youth movement By Mollie Walker Published Sep. 21, 2026, 9:46 a.m. ET New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) is shown during the team's training camp, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post The Rangers are at a point where the organization has no choice but to bet on its youth.
Though it feels like that should’ve been the case since even before the Blueshirts were last in the playoffs two years ago, there has been a clear priority shift within this retool that was only reaffirmed by head coach Mike Sullivan’s starting points in the early days of training camp this past week.
The club isn’t just talking about setting up young talent to succeed — it is actually doing it.
Alberts Smits, the 18-year-old defenseman drafted fifth overall just under three months ago in June, slotted right onto the left side of the third pair.
