The Rangers worked hard to retool their roster over the offseason.

They made some trades to bring new faces into the mix, but still have young talent on the cusp of the pro lineup.

While it’s more of a long shot for some, here are few who could potentially contribute at some point this season…

Alberts Smits

Smits was viewed by many around the game as one of the most NHL-ready defensemen in this year’s draft class.

That’s one of the reasons New York took him with the fifth overall pick.

The 18-year-old shined skating in men’s pro leagues in Germany and Finland, and was the youngest skater to compete in the 2026 Olympics, where he recorded two assists.

GM Chris Drury kept the door open for Smits to crack the Opening Night roster, but also said that the team will not rush him for the sake of getting him to the NHL.

New York also has a bit of a logjam at the bottom of their defensive core.

Smits will be an intriguing one to keep an eye on, though, as he looks to prove that he’s ready to take one of those spots.

Drew Fortescue

Fortescue figures to be a young D-man in that mix, as well.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong cup of coffee in the NHL last season, appearing in nine games down the stretch after signing his entry-level deal.

He recorded just two points, but slotted in nicely on both ends of the ice.

Fortescue now finds himself facing a bit of an uphill battle for a roster spot with the team already crowded on the backend with lefty-shooting D-men.

The youngster appears destined to begin the season in Hartford, but could build his case with a strong showing in camp.

Adam Sykora

Skating alongside good friend and fellow prospect Jaroslav Chmelar, Sykora provided a spark to the Rangers’ bottom-six down the stretch last season.

The 21-year-old winger quickly became a favorite with the tenacious play and contagious energy he brought on both ends of the ice each and every night.

Sykora also scored three times and added his first pro assist in 11 games.

Though he clearly still has some steps to take in his development, he showed in his cup of coffee that he has what it takes to carve out a role in the NHL.

With the additions the Rangers made the youngster will be down in Hartford to begin the year, but if they struggle he could work his work into the lineup at some point.

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