Bold claim: Alberts Šmits is turning the Olympic stage into a launching pad for his NHL potential. Now a late-blooming, draft-eligible defenseman from Latvia, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound teenager stood out in Milan as the event’s standout emerging talent, drawing comparisons to Juraj Slafkovský and reigniting discussions about Latvia’s rising hockey trajectory.
At Beijing four years ago, a young prospect seized the world’s attention and nudged his draft stock upward in a way that mattered for teams like the Montreal Canadiens. That same dynamic played out again in Milan, with Šmits using the Olympic arena to showcase his tools: length, mobility, physicality, and a deft touch with the puck. Though Latvia fell 4-1 to Sweden in the qualifiers, his performance left a lasting impression on teammates, coaches, and evaluators alike.
Earlier in the tournament, after Latvia’s preliminary-round tilt with the United States, Šmits acknowledged the opportunity before him—to prove he belongs among the sport’s elite and to demonstrate what he can improve to succeed against the world’s best. He framed the moment not just as a personal challenge, but as a chance to elevate his team’s standing and Latvia’s hockey program.
“Of course it’s a great opportunity, a great challenge for me that I’m glad and honored to take, to see myself and see what I need to improve to play against those types of players, the top players in the world,” he said on Feb. 12. “It’s a big challenge I have for me and for us as a team.”
Yet when asked about the bigger picture after Latvia’s exit, Šmits returned to the core motive that has defined his approach: collective impact over personal rankings. “That’s not why I came here,” he stated after the Sweden loss. “I came here to help my team and do my best to help my country. I didn’t come here for the draft rankings.”
What matters, though, is the perception of NHL teams following a best-on-best performance. Šmits earned that validation by anchoring his team’s top defensive pairing, logging roughly 18 minutes and 44 seconds per game, and looking like a natural fit at this level—even just shy of his 18th birthday.
Even a veteran goalie weighing Latvia’s prospects could not ignore the broader takeaway. Elvis Merzļikins, Columbus Blue Jackets’ netminder, praised the young players’ composure and fearlessness in the face of world-class competition. When pressed about Šmits specifically, Merzļikins confirmed that scouts back home would be keenly interested in his development, emphasizing the player’s calm, quick decision-making, physicality, and maturity.
“Sometimes the forwards blend into the background,” Merzļikins quipped, “but with Šmits, you see a kid who plays lights out. Calm, focused, and ready to defend me. He’s exactly the kind of player who represents Latvia’s future.”
The assessment from Merzļikins underscored a broader sentiment among teammates: Šmits does not shrink from elite competition. He confronts it head-on, as evidenced by a notable open-ice hit on U.S. captain Auston Matthews—a moment that symbolized his swagger and willingness to engage top-level opponents.
“The kid has swagger, and that’s good,” Merzļikins added. “He’s got a bit of my own edge in him—doesn’t care who’s in front of him, just goes for it.”
From a scouting perspective, Šmits has solidly positioned himself among the top prospects. NHL draft analysts Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler both place him in the top 10 of their latest rankings, with Pronman listing him at No. 8 and Wheeler at No. 5. The last Latvian to be chosen in the first round was Zemgus Girgensons in 2012, but Šmits is widely expected to go higher, especially after his Milan showing.
Girgensons, describing Šmits as a remarkably mature 18-year-old with standout poise and skill, predicted a bright future for him. He highlighted Šmits’ ability to hold the puck and make measured plays rather than forcing quick, reckless moves—traits that bode well for long-term development.
Latvia captain Kaspars Daugaviņš, himself with NHL experience, echoed the sentiment that high draft visibility can spark a wave of interest in future generations. When a young player breaks through at a high level, scouts take note, and the next wave follows. Daugaviņš believes Šmits’ performance will boost belief among younger players and help Latvian hockey be viewed with greater seriousness on the world stage.
For now, Šmits is back with Jukurit in Finland, a place he moved to at age 13 to pursue hockey more aggressively. Whether this season marks a final chapter in Finland or a stepping stone toward the NHL remains to be seen. After the Sweden loss, he offered a candid answer to whether this could be his last Finnish campaign: it’s too early to tell.
But Merzļikins’ takeaway is clear: Šmits has already earned a credible shot at an NHL role. He believes the leap to North America is within reach, even if he hasn’t yet skated on a smaller ice surface. In his view, the path to the NHL is open for him, and Milan’s performances only strengthened that conviction.
Would you side with Merzļikins’ early optimism and expect Šmits to become a regular NHL contributor in the near future, or do you think other factors—developmental paths, league adjustments, or international exposure—could slow his trajectory? Share your thoughts in the comments.
