LD Alberts Smits - Jukurit, Liiga (2026 Draft)

[Jukurit]

Alberts Smits - Eliteprospects

Big (190cm/6'3) Latvian d-man. Skates pretty good and has some skill. Has looked quite good as a 17-year-old in Liiga (4 games, 1 point).

First Liiga point (secondary assist)

 

[Namejs]

I wanted to make a thread about this kid. Turns out he already has one.

He moved to Finland at age 14. Did not really do anything noteworthy in Latvia.

This has been a breakout season of breakout seasons for Smits. His progress has been unexpected and very rapid over the last year. He made a jump from 2nd division U18 league in Finland to U18 SM to U20 2nd div to U20 SM to Liiga, skipping Mestis, jumping over 5 tiers in less than a year.

He was completely off the radar 2 years ago, even in Latvia.

This year he dominated at the Finnish U18s, made the Latvian U18 national team mid-season and became the leading Dman in that group after the first exhibition game. I've seen only a few games of him, but he clearly stood out at the U18 level. He scored 2 goals and was a +5 in 3 games vs. Norway/Denmark/Austria.

He will make the U18 Worlds, he will play on the top pairing and he will be QBing our PP. And he will showcase himself at the 2026 WJC as well.

A definite draft prospect for the 2026 NHL draft. Good physical specimen, good size, good skater, moves the puck well. Can't wait to see him play at the U18 Worlds for another competitive Latvian team.

 

[Namejs]

And his first pro goal as well tonight. 6 games 2 points on a really bad Jukurit team.

 

[Jukurit]

First Liiga goal.

 

[Jukurit]

I think Smits could be a first rounder in 2026. A big d-man who skates well and has good puck handling and passing. Clearly has NHL potential. Only criticism I have now is that he sometimes plays too aggressively and takes himself out of position.

 

[macbowes]

He was excellent against Canada at the U18s, basically doing it all. He's hard to play against, physical, and high intensity. I assume if he's at all interested in playing in the CHL, he's going to be a very high pick in the import draft, as he could be a top pair dman in the CHL. 1st round talent.

 

[Kahvi]

He moved to Finland at age 14. Did not really do anything noteworthy in Latvia.

Do you know if there was some family reason for this, like his parents moving to Finland to work and him moving with them? seems just kinda random that a 14yo average prospect would move to another country to play, and it's not even one of the top teams in the greater Helsinki area like Hifk or Jokerit.

 

[Namejs]

Do you know if there was some family reason for this, like his parents moving to Finland to work and him moving with them? seems just kinda random that a 14yo average prospect would move to another country to play, and it's not even one of the top teams in the greater Helsinki area like Hifk or Jokerit.

Thats's the secret sauce of Latvian success (relative to our size). We gladly send all of our most talented prospects abroad at a very young age.

14 yo is not unusual. 15-16 yo is the norm.

Also, I'm not sure if you know this or not, but multiple Latvian junior teams are integrated into the Finnish junior system, which means prospects get early exposure.

So it's anything but random.

And, yes, Smits has easily been the leading Dman of the Latvian U18s, he's got a great slapshot, he's not afraid to move the puck, to join the rush. A definite top 2 round prospect.

Heck, we might even get two 1st rounders in 2026 with Murnieks and Smits.

 

[Namejs]

He was excellent against Canada at the U18s, basically doing it all. He's hard to play against, physical, and high intensity. I assume if he's at all interested in playing in the CHL, he's going to be a very high pick in the import draft, as he could be a top pair dman in the CHL. 1st round talent.

He just signed a pro contract with a Liiga team, so I don't think it's very likely.
He's probably going to get quite a lot of ice time in Liiga next year. CHL would be a step down in that sense.

 

[Kahvi]

Thats's the secret sauce of Latvian success (relative to our size). We gladly send all of our most talented prospects abroad at a very young age.

14 yo is not unusual. 15-16 yo is the norm.

Also, I'm not sure if you know this or not, but multiple Latvian junior teams are integrated into the Finnish junior system, which means prospects get early exposure.

So it's anything but random.

And, yes, Smits has easily been the leading Dman of the Latvian U18s, he's got a great slapshot, he's not afraid to move the puck, to join the rush. A definite top 2 round prospect.

Heck, we might even get two 1st rounders in 2026 with Murnieks and Smits.

I think I've read before about Latvian teams being part of the Finnish league system. One team played in the Mestis for couple of seasons some time ago? So nothing unusual latvians playing in Finnish teams, just the combination of young player who's not a top prospect, going to a team that is not a top junior team that made me wonder this.

 

[Namejs]

I think I've read before about Latvian teams being part of the Finnish league system. One team played in the Mestis for couple of seasons some time ago? So nothing unusual latvians playing in Finnish teams, just the combination of young player who's not a top prospect, going to a team that is not a top junior team that made me wonder this.

There's literally like 150 Latvian kids scattered throughout the Finnish, Swedish and other junior league systems.

 

[ddlennon]

Impressive path to liiga, hes played on basically every finnsh jrs level in the past 3 seasons really respect that amount grinding especially moving abroad so early and playing for karhu-kissat off all orgs