Noah Laba has come on strong for the New York Rangers, showing that he has potential to be a future top-six forward. He scored his first career goal in the otherwise forgettable 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, before scoring again in the Blueshirts' eventual overtime win over the Seattle Kraken.
Better yet, in three of the past four games, Laba has logged at least 13:50 of ice time, which is phenomenal, considering he has only averaged 11:36 of ice time through the Rangers' first 13 matchups. This signals that the coaching staff is gaining more faith in Laba, and that there is a good chance he will wind up with regular middle-six or even top-six minutes before the calendar year ends.
When you look at his overall body of work, there's a lot to like about Laba, starting with his imposing 6'3, 214 pound build. So far, he has used that size to his advantage, landing 10 body checks and 10 blocked shots. It shows that even if he's coming around as a scorer, Laba is still someone who's going to use his size and strength to outmuscle opponents.
Noah Laba is on track to transform into a complete player for the New York Rangers
Laba has also shown how well he can fare in the face-off circle, winning 47 draws so far, good for a 54.7 face-off win percentage. His even-strength metrics have also looked good, showcasing an 11.5 on-ice shooting percentage to go with a 94.1 on-ice save percentage, clocking in a solid 105.6 PDO.
He has also seen nominal time on the power play and penalty kill. Not much, with just 4.8 minutes on the man advantage and 10.3 on the PK unit, so don't be surprised if Laba starts seeing even more ice time on special teams as he keeps getting acclimated to the NHL.
Finally, plus-minus isn't a metric that one should solely use as a means of success, but it's worth noting Laba has plus 3. And considering his strong defensive numbers at even strength and that his Corsi For is just 46.7 in that same situation, Laba's defensive play appears to be strong.
What this means for the Rangers moving forward
Regardless of how the Rangers fare this season, a player like Laba is bursting onto the scene with a core that includes young talent like Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Juuso Parssinen, Adam Edstrom, Adam Fox, Braden Schneider, and, for as long as he's in town, Brennan Othmann.
That doesn't include talent like Gabe Perreault, who will burst onto the scene at some point and ultimately take over a top-six role. As the season progresses, someone like Noah Laba can develop into a player one rung below the likes of Perreault and Lafreniere, meaning there's a good chance he will be a staple in this Rangers lineup.
It's also worth keeping in mind that Laba will be up for an extension in the summer of 2026. So the better he plays now and, when he's in a contract year for 2026-27, the more likely he may land something more long-term, instead of a bridge deal.
Going forward, Laba must keep his productivity trending north if he wants to keep seeing his ice time increase. He also needs to build chemistry with all potential linemates, regardless if whether he regularly plays alongside them or if it's a new face. Laba's potential breakout also sets the stage for other prospects looking to break free, like Perreault and Bryce McConnell-Barker.
Developing homegrown talent like Laba is nothing new to the Rangers, who have seen success with Will Cuylle, and Braden Schneider. Both had impressed in the lower leagues and have since developed into solid players in New York. Laba is just the latest addition. If he wants to keep his spot in the lineup, Laba must continue to play his physical brand of hockey, while putting up steady productivity.