Introducing Noah Laba, the New York Rangers 4th Round Draft Steal
Noah Laba’s hockey journey has been defined by grit, skill, and perseverance. Now a standout at Colorado College and a Hobey Baker nominee, an NHL future for this Rangers 4th round pick is within reach.
In the 2022 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers were looking for tenacity, physicality, and toughness in their draft picks. So it's no surprise they selected Noah Laba in the fourth round, 111th overall.
Laba had just completed his second and final season in the USHL at the time of the draft, where his stats took a significant leap. Having not been drafted by a USHL or OHL team, he was able to walk on and become a regular player for the USHL's Lincoln Stars. He scored 19 points his first year but improved to 39 points in his sophomore season, going from .41 PPG to .78 PPG. The Rangers saw something in his game, and they called Laba's name, with the plan in place of letting the young center further develop at Colorado College.
Laba’s first season with the Colorado College Tigers was an eventful one. He finished second on the team in both goals and overall points, 11 and 22 respectively. He registered the most points by a freshman in almost five years in the Colorado College program and proved to be an effective player in all situations, seeing time on both the power play and the penalty kill. He was especially leaned on for his face-off prowess, something the Rangers could use more of, as he was ranked seventh overall in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference with a .549 winning percentage.
His tenacious play-driving style was further recognized when he was named to the 2023 United States World Junior Championship roster. His final role with the team was as one of their extra forwards, but he got to dress in their bronze medal game and helped the team come home with some hardware.
