Noah Laba enters this season with a real chance to shape the Rangers’ long-term picture down the middle, and his first full look at the job already gave the team something to build on.
The 24-point rookie year was steady enough on its own. In 74 games last season, Laba finished with nine goals and 15 assists while winning nearly 51% of his faceoffs. That kind of production doesn’t scream headline-grabber, but it does tell a clear story: he held his own, handled the middle of the ice, and showed enough consistency to stay in the conversation.
That’s what makes this upcoming season matter so much. For the Rangers, this isn’t just about filling minutes.
It’s about figuring out what Laba really is. Can he grow into more responsibility?
Can he survive with better offensive support around him? Or is his value tied more to being a sturdy, physical center who does the hard work in the middle of the ice?
Right now, the most likely landing spot points to the checking line. The expectation is that he could end up on the third line with Will Cuylle and freshly signed Eeli Tolvanen for 2026-27. That would fit where he is in the pecking order as things stand, especially with the Rangers’ prospect pipeline crowded more on the wings than at center.
Still, the door is not shut on a bigger role.
J.T. Miller is currently holding down the second-line center spot, and there is at least a path to a change later on in 2026-27.
If Laba continues to develop and gives head coach Mike Sullivan a strong enough case, he could make the conversation about the lineup a lot more interesting. That becomes even more relevant if Miller’s play does not trend back toward what he showed in Vancouver.
In that scenario, a third-line role might make more sense for Miller than a move to the wing.
For Laba, though, the assignment is straightforward. Keep producing, keep proving he can handle the position, and let the rest sort itself out. A solid season would not just help him now - it could strengthen his place in the Rangers’ future beyond 2026-27.
In Other News...
Rangers Still Have One Lineup Debate That Could Shape Everything
The Rangers forward puzzle is starting to come into focus as the season approaches, and the most interesting part is still the one that could influence everything else. There are already plenty of moving pieces to sort through, from Will Cuylles role to how the team balances speed, skill and size, but the conversation around the top six has a different feel because it is less about filling spots and more about finding a combination that actually clicks.
J.T. Miller sits at the center of that discussion, with the Rangers weighing different ways to build around him and make the rest of the lineup fit. There is also the matter of Matt Rempe, whose expected return adds another layer if he is healthy, since his size and presence could change the look of the team in a hurry. For a club trying to settle its identity before opening night, the unanswered question is not just who plays where, but which version of the Rangers they want to be. [Read more 🡒]
Jaroslav Chmela Is Giving The Rangers A Real Bottom-Six Decision
Jaroslav Chmela has turned a once-for-future conversation into a real roster question for the Rangers. The 21-year-old prospect has steadily improved, and his recent NHL call-up left enough of an impression that the coaching staff is now treating him as more than a depth name in camp. With the organization still trying to sort out the bottom six, he has become one of the more interesting players on the board.
The wrinkle is that the Rangers do not have to force the issue right away, especially with Hartford reshaping its coaching setup to help prospects keep moving forward. Chmelas development path is clearly trending up, but the next step could still come either in New York or back with the Wolf Pack, depending on how the final decisions shake out. For a player who has earned more attention with each look, that makes the coming days worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Fox Puts Real Pressure On This Rangers Retool
As the Rangers head into a roster retool after finishing last in the Eastern Conference, Adam Fox sits at the center of the conversation whether the team likes it or not. He is still their top defenseman and is under contract for three more years at $9.5 million per season, which makes him both a cornerstone and a difficult piece to separate from any bigger rethink by general manager Chris Drury.
Fox did not exactly slam the door on his future when the questions started coming during the season, but he also did not offer the kind of firm commitment that quiets a market like New York. Since the year ended, his tone has been a little more encouraging, with a sense that the Rangers still have enough to build on, though the real issue is whether the organizations direction matches that optimism. [Read more 🡒]