New York Rangers rookie defenseman Ēriks Šmits has played ten games in the NHL without recording a point, anchoring the team’s third defensive pairing since the start of the regular season.
Rangers Coach Evaluates Defensive Focus
New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has evaluated 18-year-old Šmits and his scoreless start to the year after the young Latvian blueliner earned his roster spot during training camp. Through ten appearances, Šmits remains without a goal or an assist while averaging minutes primarily on the third pairing.
“I think the offense will come,” Šmits said regarding his production. “First, I’ve got to handle the defense. That’s what I’m focusing on right now.”
Advanced metrics point to steady underlying performance during his shifts. According to Natural Stat Trick data from the Rangers’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Šmits posted a team-high 82.94% expected goals share while on the ice.
Laviolette Identifies Growth Areas and Enthusiasm Mistakes
“The biggest challenge for a young defenseman is how he reads the game,” Laviolette said. “When to be aggressive and when to back off, stay between the faceoff dots, control that zone, and let the play come to you. That, in my opinion, is the hardest job for a defenseman in this league. I think that will be Šmits’ challenge moving forward. However, we are thrilled with his aggressiveness.”
Special Teams Usage Limits Ice Time
Šmits has not yet locked down a regular role on either the power play or the penalty kill, which has restricted his total playing time. During the recent matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the defenseman saw fewer shifts in the third period, partly because the Rangers drew three power-play opportunities during that frame.
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