Danny Wild-Imagn ImagesNoah Laba has an opportunity to pick up right where he left off for the New York Rangers.
The emergence of Laba was one of the bigger surprises and bright spots of the Rangers’ 2025-26 campaign.
The 2022 fourth-round pick entered training camp with little to no expectations, as he was almost certain to spend the season in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
However, Laba stood out throughout training camp and the preseason and not only made the Rangers’ opening-night roster but also earned the third-line center role.
The 23-year-old rookie stayed with the Blueshirts for the entirety of the season, recording nine goals, 15 assists, and 24 points while averaging 13:28 minutes.
Throughout the season, Laba grew more comfortable playing at the NHL level and it showed in his game, both in his ability to create offense and contributions he made as a reliable two-way forward.
For a rookie, Laba showed impressive maturity on the ice, and he was quickly able to emerge as a true Swiss Army knife for the Rangers.
Laba has a lot of momentum to build on going into the 2026-27 season. He should see a similar third-line center role, with the potential of being utilized more.
Now that Vincent Trocheck is off to Utah, the Rangers could elevate Laba to a top-six role if Mike Sullivan wants to flip Mika Zibanejad or J.T. Miller to the wing, which he did for parts of last year.
Laba should also continue to see an uptick in minutes on the penalty kill, as he continues to build upon his two-way game.
After a strong rookie campaign, Laba has the potential to take a big step in his second season and cement himself as a cornerstone piece of this retool.
