Alberts Smits Ranks No. 2 International Skater for 2026 NHL Draft

Q: Will the Predators ignore a key positional need for the draft’s most NHL-ready defenseman?

Probably not — and they may not even get the chance. Nashville’s public stance under Chris MacFarland, Jeff Kealty and Tom Nolan has been to take the highest-upside player available, not draft strictly by position. That approach actually fits Alberts Smits well, because he is widely viewed as one of the draft’s most NHL-ready defensemen and one of the best blueliners in the class. His résumé is unusually advanced for an 18-year-old: pro games in Finland’s Liiga, playoff production in Germany, Olympic experience with Latvia, and strong reviews for hockey IQ, physical maturity and power-play upside. But the key issue is availability. Multiple projections place Smits well ahead of Nashville’s No. 10 pick, with some mock drafts sending him at No. 5 or No. 7. If that happens, the Predators cannot choose him unless they trade up. At No. 10, several mocks instead connect Nashville to forwards such as Wyatt Cullen, Tynan Lawrence or Ethan Belchetz, reflecting the organization’s need for more offensive skill, particularly down the middle and on the wing. So the real question is less whether Nashville would ignore need and more whether Smits reaches them. If he does, taking him would not be a reach or a contradiction. The Predators also want to strengthen their defense pipeline, especially with high-end talent, and Smits’ NHL readiness, size and top-four projection would make him a logical best-player-available pick. If he is gone, Nashville is more likely to address offense.

3 articles · Updated · NHL.com · Jun 25

Alberts Smits enters the 2026 NHL Draft as NHL Central Scouting’s No. 2 international skater after jumping from junior hockey to top European pro leagues.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Latvian defenseman scored 13 points in 38 games in Finland’s top league, then added six points in 10 playoff games on loan in Germany.
Latvia also leaned on the 18-year-old in four events last season, including the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he posted two assists in four games.
NHL Central Scouting highlighted Smits’ hockey IQ, physical defending and power-play upside, and he recently won the 2026 E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence.
His profile fits a draft class rich in defensemen as Nashville heads into June 26-27 in Buffalo holding 11 picks, including No. 10 overall.