The New York Rangers' prospect pool is something that could use some improving this offseason, but it does include a couple interesting names worth keeping an eye on in the coming years. One such name is Noah Laba, a 6'2", 192 pound center who inked a deal with the Rangers in late March, and next season he should be in a prime position to prove himself for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Laba was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and spent the last two seasons playing for Colorado College in the NCAA. He spent just 100 games across two seasons at Colorado College, and in that time he scored 41 goals and added 44 assists for 85 points. Prior to that, Laba skated for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, and he tallied a line of 24-34-58 in 96 games across two seasons.
Laba joined the Wolf Pack for an 11-game sample after signing his deal with the Rangers, and he scored 3 goals while adding 2 assists for 5 points. His first career goal was a beauty, and given how efficient the varsity squad was on the penalty kill this season, it was nice to see this type of proficiency at the AHL level.
The ideal for a player like Laba is to be a high ceiling bottom-six center, and that could be valuable for the Rangers in the coming years as they try and improve their center depth and balance their salary cap. He is a grit and grind energy player who has some skill, and next year in Hartford should be a good test for him.
The Rangers certainly have a handful of bottom-six options that include Jonny Brodzinski, Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, and Juuso Parssinen among others, but if all goes well Laba could be a really attractive option for the 2026-27 season because he makes just $870,000 against the cap.
The Rangers haven't had many big names in Hartford over the past few years, and while a fourth round pick isn't quite a big name, Laba has some buzz around him, and it would be great if he's able to make an easy adjustment as a full-time AHL rookie next year.
Laba turns 22 in August, and while it is still very early to assess the competition he will face, it will be good for him to be on a team with someone like Dylan Roobroeck, a 20-year-old forward who comes in at 6'7" and 205 pounds and turned heads with 20 goals as a rookie last season. Roobroeck joined the Pack after having a good final season in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals, but didn't have any real expectations considering he was a sixth round pick. Having someone like that to learn from, even though Laba is older, could be beneficial, and if all goes well the pair will eventually suit up together for the Rangers a few years down the line.