New York Rangers prospect Noah Laba has officially signed his entry-level contract. He's got a new two-year deal with the Rangers beginning next year. He's going to the Hartford Wolf Pack on the Amateur Tryout until the end of the year, as he'll start to make the transition from the National Collegiate Athletics Association to the American Hockey League with the Wolf Pack as some of their best forwards are currently up with the New York Rangers.
With Colorado College this season, Laba recorded 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 29 games. Those aren't outstanding numbers, but they do suggest that this is a player that knows how to put the puck in the net if the Rangers develop him properly. That is a seperate issue that is ongoing with how the Blueshirts have treated their current crop of young forwards, but the Blueshirts will hope this player continues to come along.
The Nothville, Missouri native is listed at 6'2, 195 lbs. The Rangers will hope they can get him to continue filling out the frame of an NHL player, and this right-shot center can eventually slot into their lineup. He was the fourth round pick of the Rangers in the 2022 NHL entry draft, and at #111 overall, there is potential for this to turn into a great value selection by the Rangers.
Just because he has a deal for next season does not mean we should expect to see him on the NHL roster. He's going to need time to adjust to professional hockey before he gets a shot with the big club. However, the fact the Rangers opted to give him a contract, and use one of the 50 they are allowed under the rules of the NHL shows that this is a player they want to have around for the foreseeable future.