The rookie wall is a rite of passage for every young player, but for Noah Laba, it was starting to look like a trick straight out of a Looney Tunes short. It was the brick wall the Roadrunner paints on the side of a mountain for Wile E. Coyote... one second Laba was at a full sprint, and the next, he was flat on his face, wondering where the open ice went. Between an upper-body injury that cost him the Winter Classic and the grueling pace of a centennial season, the 22-year-old center entered the Olympic break looking like a player who desperately needed to catch his breath.
This season marks the most games Laba has played in a single year of hockey. After logging 50 games in 2021-22 with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars and just 36 games during the 2023-24 NCAA season with Colorado College, Laba is already up to 63 games with the Rangers. For a young player used to the college schedule, that jump in workload is immense.
Given what we’ve seen lately, 19 days off during the Olympic break was exactly what the doctor ordered. Since the league resumed play, Laba has come out of the gate refreshed and relentless, pacing for the best statistical month of his young career.
Out of the gates refreshed
The difference in Laba's game post-break isn't just on the scoresheet, it’s in his legs. Known for his elite skating speed—ranking in the 87th percentile of the NHL according to NHL EDGE data—Laba has consistently flashed the burst that made him a training camp standout. He is winning puck battles and being rewarded for the hard work.
In seven March games, Laba has already notched three goals and two assists, including a standout performance in the 6-2 rout of the Flyers where he tallied a goal and an assist. For context, Laba had four goals across the first two months of the season combined. He is currently producing at nearly triple his early-season point-per-game pace. What's also noticeable is his increased usage; he’s averaging a season-high 15:11 per game, which speaks to the growing trust the coaching staff has in him.
GABE ➡️ LABA ➡️ PPG 🙌 pic.twitter.com/S2NKHN16RJ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 14, 2026
A developing trio to watch
A seemingly under-the-radar part of Laba's surge has been his burgeoning chemistry with Tye Kartye. Since Kartye’s arrival on waivers, Laba has looked more comfortable as both a distributor and a driver on the third line. With Conor Sheary recently returning to provide a steadying veteran presence, the trio has become a statistical juggernaut.
In 73 minutes together at 5v5, the line is rocking a 76.58 GF%, a 55.07 CF%, and a 54.22 xGF% per Evolving-Hockey. They are currently accounting for 5.2 goals for per 60 minutes while surrendering just 1.59 against. While that scoring rate is likely a "heater" that isn't fully sustainable, as the saying goes: they don't ask how, they ask how many.
Blueprint for Letter 2.0
The biggest takeaway is that Laba isn't just filling a spot anymore. He earned his role out of camp and has carried that pressure all season, refusing to relinquish it. While he still has plenty to learn, his ability to win footraces and track down loose pucks has provided a vital spark for a Rangers team that has gone 6-1-2 since play resumed.
As the Rangers navigate their retool, Laba’s resurgence is the best-case scenario. He is proving he can handle top-six responsibility when he is healthy and rested. If he can maintain this .71 points per game pace through April, he won't just be a bright spot in a difficult season, he'll be a lock for a cornerstone role in 2026-27.
The Rangers have other players like Laba in the system, and the hope is that the next wave of arrivals will have as significant an impact as he has provided. There is still work to be done in building a contender, but little by little, the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit.