The New York Rangers drafted Noah Laba in the 2022 NHL Draft. GM Chris Drury selected him 111th overall in the 4th round that year, and he's worked hard to establish himself in the prospect pool. He made the jump from Colorado College to the Hartford Wolfpack last season.
Noah Laba was a 4th-round draft pick of the New York Rangers. For Laba, the status quo was to work as hard as he could and find himself a spot in the lineup to the best of his abilities.
He's done that in Hartford after a short stint in the AHL, where he'd score 5 points (3-2) in 11 games as a Rangers prospect.
Noah Laba's Future With the New York Rangers
Laba has proven himself a capable performer, as the Rangers monitored his progress in Colorado, which encouraged him to sign an entry-level contract with the Rangers, only after three years in Colorado.
The center would return to Colorado College for his junior year.
«Last season, the Rangers pushed hard to sign me,» Laba said. «It was definitely a tough decision but I decided to come back to college.»
He'd later sign his first NHL contract with the team in March, which had a term of two years, and now, the 22-year-old has begun his professional hockey career.
The decision to make the leap to Hartford was a positive experience for Laba, who felt that gaining those reps on the ice helped him find out what it takes to play at this level of hockey.
«I don't think you really understand kind of the play (professional hockey) and the level until you're there playing it, so it definitely was great to get those games in,» said Laba. «I played with some older vets who helped me grow. They're great players and it's so easy when you're on the ice with them.»
For the two-way forward, who has a sizable frame of 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, he wants to utilize his frame and abilities to grow into a power-forward role.
«I think I'm a big (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), strong, powerful two-way center who can play offense as well as be good defensively and help create time and space for my teammates,» Laba said about himself. «That's what I'm trying to bring to all levels.»
Laba's time with the Blueshirt may not be coming so soon, but if they can develop another power-forward with the play style of Tom Wilson, the Rangers would be better off long-term.
