The New York Rangers made history on Friday with their youth movement, and all signs suggest that another important youngster will be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Florida Panthers. Rookie center Noah Laba has been sensational for the Blueshirts, and he's been out of the lineup for the last five games after suffering a lower-body injury on March 18. Based on activity around the team on Saturday, Laba appears ready to go.
Laba was full participant in practice on Saturday
The Rangers' rookie center was originally rulled week-to-week, and that designation suggested that his return to the lineup was up in the air given that there aren't many games left on the docket. Despite this, Laba rejoined the team for practice on Saturday and skated on the fourth line along with Jonny Brodzinski and Jaroslav Chmelař. He's still considered a game-time decision, but that could just be the team playing coy.
Laba's room on roster created by waiving veteran forward to Hartford
If that wasn't enough to signal his likely return, the Rangers also assigned Juuso Pärssinen to the Hartford Wolf Pack. It is great to see Laba back on the ice, and ideally he will get a chance to play meaningful minutes down the stretch.
Laba was thriving prior to injury, has chance to end season strong
The Michigan native has been one of the most exciting surprises of the season, tallying nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in his first 65 games. While many first-year players hit a plateau, Laba looked remarkably refreshed following the Olympic break. After a mid-winter grind where he managed just nine points across 29 games from December through February, he found a completely different gear in March.
Before his injury, Laba had exploded for three goals and two assists in just nine games this month, nearly tripling his early-season scoring pace. Considering this season marks the most hockey Laba has ever played in a single year, hitting a physical wall was expected. However, his quicker than expected recovery presents a massive opportunity to finish the year on a high note. The Rangers are hoping this final stretch can serve as a springboard, turning his recent surge into the new standard for his sophomore campaign next season.
Regardless of the final score, Laba's presence provides a massive boost to a lineup currently under the microscope. The Rangers draw a Florida Panthers squad that, despite being the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, is currently fighting for its life to even get a chance at a three-peat. There is no love lost between these two franchises, and for a Rangers roster overflowing with young talent, this is a prime opportunity to bring the intensity. It’s a literal taste of what awaits them if they can successfully bridge the gap from retool back to contender.