Noah Laba wins Rangers’ Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award after breakout camp

Every training camp, the New York Rangers honor one rookie who rises above the rest with the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award. It's a tradition that's been around since 1988, named after the late Swedish defenseman and Rangers scout who passed away too soon at just 43 years old. The award has always carried weight to Sjoberg's legacy, but as a glimpse into the organization's future. Several winners have become key contributors in New York, and it's hoped that this year's recipient will be no exception. This year's winner, Noah Laba.

A fourth-round pick in 2022 (111th overall), Laba wasn't a household name in Rangerstown when camp opened a few weeks ago. Yet he quickly made himself one. Coming off three strong seasons at Colorado College, he joined the Hartford Wolf Pack for 11 games at the end of last year, putting up three goals and two assists. Solid numbers, but nothing that screamed "future NHL impact." Drafted by the Blueshirts in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, he was coming off a strong season with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, where he put up 39 points in 50 games—including 15 goals—in his second year in the league.

From there, he took the college route, heading to Colorado College. As a freshman, Laba wasted no time making an impact, posting 22 points in 35 games while already showing flashes of the responsible, two-way game that would become his calling card. That foundation set the stage for a breakout sophomore year, when he exploded for 20 goals and 17 assists—just shy of a point-per-game pace. By his junior season, Laba wasn’t just producing offense (26 points in 29 games), but wore the “A” on his chest as part of Colorado's leadership group. He’d grown into a player who could be trusted in every situation—offensively, defensively, and as a voice in the room.

After that year, the Rangers knew it was time. Laba signed his entry-level contract, then jumped right into the pro game with Hartford on an amateur tryout, a smart move that let him get his feet wet in the AHL without burning the first year of his deal. It was another step in a path that’s been all about doing things the right way—building, learning, and proving himself at every level. However, from the first preseason skate, Laba played like a man determined to leave no doubt. He became the only Ranger to dress in all six preseason games, recording six points, and he made every shift count. He beat the Islanders in overtime, setup linemates, threw his body around on the penalty kill, and was relentless on the forecheck. He showed a complete game that coaches, including Mike Sullivan drool over. By the end of camp, he was, arguably, one of their ' best players.

Now, with opening night looming, Laba is still practicing in a top-nine role alongside Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh. That's not by accident. The Rangers have the flexibility to carry a 23-man roster to start the season, and if they do, Laba looks primed to stick around. That means tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden, when the Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins to kick off the 2025–26 season, Laba could very well be making his NHL debut. That's the beauty of hockey—opportunity comes fast, and if you're ready for it, your life can change overnight.

So congrats to Laba, not just for winning the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, but for forcing his way into the conversation in every possible way. If his preseason was any indication, this might be just the start of something special in New York.