The Rangers have some good news on the horizon. It looks like Noah Laba might make his return as early as Saturday in Boston after a lengthy absence due to an upper-body injury he suffered on New Year’s Eve.
At just 22, Laba has been out for a while, but he participated fully in practice in Tarrytown on Friday, skating alongside teammates Gabe Perreault and Taylor Radish.
During his rookie season, Laba scored five goals and notched a total of 12 points. Coach Mike Sullivan mentioned that the team will monitor how Laba feels before deciding whether he will play against the Bruins.
Sullivan expressed his satisfaction with Laba’s performance this season, stating, “I think he did a really good job. He’s been improving steadily, game after game—and, well, even month by month.” It’s nice to see that kind of growth.
Despite his injury setbacks, Laba has still played in 42 games this season, which is an improvement over his previous seasons at Colorado.
He mentioned feeling good lately, and Sullivan acknowledged that adapting to the NHL’s demanding schedule can be tough for younger players.
“The leap from a college season, which might only be 30 or 40 games, to an 80 or even 100-game schedule—it’s a big adjustment,” Sullivan explained. “The intensity and preparation can be exhausting in various ways, not just physically. But Laba handled it well.”
On the topic of potential line adjustments, Sullivan noted that Perreault showed signs of improvement, stating that he was “more involved with the puck” during Thursday’s game against Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Vincent Trocheck shared his thoughts about the team’s recent struggles. He didn’t blame last Thursday’s unsportsmanlike penalty on frustration, but he admitted that the team isn’t satisfied with their current performance.
“Frustration is part of the game—especially when you’re not winning as much as you’d like. We need to channel that frustration effectively,” he said. When asked if his penalty stemmed from team frustrations, he humorously replied, “That might be a question for my therapist.”
Sullivan also mentioned he thought it might be beneficial to mix up the veteran defensemen, Carson Soucy and Will Borgen, to create a better balance with the younger players on the team, especially given the injury to Fox.
This Friday, Robertson will pair with Borgen, while Vaakanainen will also be on the ice, partnering with Soucy. Additionally, Gavrikov will team up with Schneider.
“Our aim is to distribute the younger players alongside veterans to find a good balance,” Sullivan said of his strategy. “It’ll be a game-by-game decision based on performance and how the pairings hold up.”
Sullivan was also impressed with Gavrikov’s performance on the power play in the wake of Fox’s injury, noting, “It’s still early, but I think Gavrikov is our best option right now. He can shoot the puck, and his instincts are pretty solid.”
