The New York Rangers knew trading Vincent Trocheck would leave a major void down the middle of their lineup.
After dealing the veteran center to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Sean Durzi, top prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round draft pick, the Rangers not only lost one of their most productive forwards but also one of their most trusted leaders.
Now, the organization is hoping the answer to that vacancy is already in-house.
may not be ready to replace everything Trocheck brought to New York, but his rookie season offered plenty of reasons to believe he could become one of the team’s most important players moving forward.
Laba’s Rookie Season Turned Heads
Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Laba entered last season without much fanfare. By the end of the year, however, he had established himself as one of the Rangers’ biggest developmental success stories.
Despite battling three separate injuries, the 22-year-old appeared in 74 games, quickly earning the trust of head coach Mike Sullivan.
Laba became the club’s regular third-line center while taking on difficult defensive assignments, penalty-killing responsibilities, and even earning time on the second power-play unit later in the season.
His combination of size, speed, physical play, defensive awareness, and faceoff ability made him one of New York’s most reliable young forwards.
Those qualities are remarkably similar to the attributes that made Trocheck so valuable during his four seasons with the Rangers.
Offensive Growth Is the Next Challenge
Where Laba still trails Trocheck is on the offensive side of the game.
Trocheck developed into one of the NHL’s premier two-way centers, recording multiple 70-point seasons and consistently producing 20 or more goals throughout his career.
Laba’s rookie numbers were far more modest.
He finished the season with nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per game.
Still, Rangers coaches believe there is much more offense waiting to emerge.
Before turning professional, Laba displayed significant scoring ability at Colorado College, where he produced 20 goals and 37 points in one season before following it up with another impressive campaign. He also showed offensive flashes during a brief stint in the AHL.
The young center has already identified scoring as his biggest offseason priority, focusing on improving his shot, puck skills, and overall offensive confidence.
If those improvements translate to the NHL, the Rangers could have a dependable middle-six center for years to come.
Rangers Gain Financial Flexibility
Replacing a player like Trocheck is never easy.
The veteran averaged more than 20 minutes per game during his time in New York, earned an NHL All-Star selection, and played a major role in the Rangers’ deep playoff run in 2024.
He also served as one of the team’s emotional leaders and could be trusted in virtually every situation.
However, moving Trocheck also created valuable salary-cap flexibility.
Laba will carry a cap hit of just $945,000 next season, giving the Rangers a much less expensive option while continuing their effort to build a younger roster.
Although he may not immediately match Trocheck’s production or leadership, his affordability allows New York to strengthen other areas of the roster.
A Bigger Role Awaits
The Rangers are expected to continue pairing Laba with promising winger Will Cuylle, a combination that quietly produced encouraging results last season.
The duo consistently generated quality scoring chances and controlled play at even strength, giving the coaching staff confidence that both players can continue developing together.
If Laba takes another significant step offensively, he could eventually earn opportunities higher in the lineup while remaining one of the team’s most dependable two-way forwards.
The Future Could Be Brighter Than Expected
Few players can fully replace everything Vincent Trocheck contributed on and off the ice.
But the Rangers aren’t necessarily asking Noah Laba to become another Trocheck overnight.
Instead, they’re betting that continued development, increased responsibility, and growing offensive confidence will allow the young center to gradually fill one of the organization’s biggest needs.
If that happens, New York’s decision to move on from one of its veteran leaders may prove far less damaging than many initially expected.
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