Noah Laba appears to earn Rangers roster spot, named top rookie in camp
The day before the start of the 2025-26 season shaped up to be a pretty darn good one for Noah Laba. The 22-year-old center appears to have earned a spot on the New York Rangers opening-night roster, after he was voted the top rookie in training camp.
Laba centered the third line at practice Monday, skating between veteran wings Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh. Juuso Parssinen and Brett Berard were the extra forwards, and Jonny Brodzinski remained at home with his family after his wife gave birth to their third child this past weekend.
Berard was assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League after practice and will begin the 2025-26 campaign with the Wolf Pack. The 23-year-old forward had 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 35 games with the Rangers last season.
That would lead one to believe Laba’s made the team and will be the 3C on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. But coach Mike Sullivan didn’t confirm anything when he spoke to reporters after practice, which was held at the University of Rhode Island to close out a three-day team-building trip outside of New York.
Sullivan did offer up that a decision’s already been made about Laba, though added he’ll reveal it “in due time.”
Earlier in the day, Laba was named the winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, which is presented annually to the top rookie in Rangers training camp, as voted by the media. It wasn’t a big surprise, considering Laba led the Rangers with six points (two goals, four assists) and excelled on both sides of the puck playing all six preseason games.
“We think he’s had a great camp,” Sullivan said following practice. “The player that I watched in the rookie games in Lehigh Valley versus the player that I watched in Boston (against the Bruins) the other day, I think he’s made leaps and bounds, even just from a confidence standpoint.”
This was Laba’s first NHL training camp, after he played three seasons at Colorado College. The 2022 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) showed the Rangers that he’s a diligent two-way player, one equally committed to winning face-offs and defending in his own end, as he is to producing on the offensive end. Laba is mature for his age and level of pro experience, which consists of 11 games late last season with Hartford of the American Hockey League, when he recorded five points (three goals, two assists).
“I think he physically is capable of playing at this level. He’s big and he’s strong, he brings good size (6-foot-3, 213 pounds). He can really skate,” Sullivan stated. “He’s probably provided evidence to himself that he belongs, and I think you can see it in his confidence when he’s on the ice. We think he’s had a terrific camp.”
Conor Sheary signs contract with Rangers after attending camp on PTO
It was also a very good day for Sheary. The 33-year-old signed a one-year contract, reportedly for the League minimum, with the Rangers after attending training camp on a PTO.
Sheary recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in four preseason games and displayed tremendous energy with his relentless puck pursuit — Sullivan called it a “dog on a bone” the other day — and played up and down the Rangers lineup, though is best suited for bottom-six duty.
Where he practiced Monday is a sign that Sheary will open the season on the third with Laba and Raddysh on Tuesday against the Penguins.
“I can’t really say too much. I think it’s a good sign but nothing’s official until it’s official,” Sheary said after practice before the news was officially announced.
There was always going to be a comfort level for Sullivan with Sheary since they each helped the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.But there are questions about what the 5-foot-8 forward has left to give after he played in only five NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.
Sheary did lead Syracuse with 20 goals and 61 points in 59 AHL games last season. So, at worst, he could play a big role in the minors this season for the Rangers if things don’t work out in the NHL long term for him.
Sullivan also said that Artemi Panarin (upper-body injury) and J.T. Miller (lower-body injury) are good to go for the season opener Tuesday. Each practiced in a regular jersey Monday. Panarin didn’t play at all in the preseason and Miller appeared in one preseason game.
The Rangers must file their opening-night roster by 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
