Rangers weakness in key area means prized prospect Noah Loba could reach NHL sooner

Noah Laba came into his first ever Rangers rookie camp with some serious momentum behind him. 

After finishing up his junior season at Colorado College, as well as logging his first 11 professional hockey games with the Wolf Pack last season, the 22-year-old center was evidently one of the top prospects that Blueshirts management wanted to evaluate this past week. 

Laba centered Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann, two of only three rookies with NHL experience in camp, each day before getting real game action between the two Friday and Saturday night against the Flyers prospects in Allentown, PA. 

The Rangers are organizationally thin at center, and Laba could be on a fast track for that very reason. 

“Obviously, just like everybody else, the goal is to make the New York Rangers, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said earlier this week. “Just trying to compete, showcase my skills and my abilities and where I shine.” 

Though making the Rangers roster out of training camp may be a long shot — given his position on the center depth chart behind the likes of J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Sam Carrick, Jonny Brodzinski and center/wing Mika Zibanejad — Laba will still benefit from time in Hartford.