Confirmed with Link: Noah Laba Signs 2-year ELC

[The Crypto Guy]

 

[Mike in Houston]

Scratch Kreider. Play Laba.

 

[Machinehead]

Another guy we'll never try above the 4th line.

 

[MrAlmost]

Another guy we'll never try above the 4th line.

Hard to get excited for any of this anymore now that it's been everyone and will never change. Chytil, kakko, Laf, Berard, Othmann. Even though they were bad, Andersson and Kravtsov too. This team should be sued for costing good prospects millions in potential earnings.

 

[Mike in Houston]

How many of you Long Islanders are going to say it, "Noah Laber"?

 

[McRanger92]

How many of you Long Islanders are going to say it, "Noah Laber"?

I just saw you tweet this Michael

 

[SA16]

Hard to get excited for any of this anymore now that it's been everyone and will never change. Chytil, kakko, Laf, Berard, Othmann. Even though they were bad, Andersson and Kravtsov too. This team should be sued for costing good prospects millions in potential earnings.

Just wondering what line is Will Cuylle, a 23 year old in his second year, currently playing on?

 

[Mike in Houston]

I just saw you tweet this Michael

Ha! I do post a lot of the same tweets here, but without the embed.

 

[McRanger92]

Hard to get excited for any of this anymore now that it's been everyone and will never change. Chytil, kakko, Laf, Berard, Othmann. Even though they were bad, Andersson and Kravtsov too. This team should be sued for costing good prospects millions in potential earnings.

it is hard when you list a bunch of 23 year olds and call them finished products. Othman and Berard havent even played a combined 50 NHL games. Also the fact that you mentioned Andersson and kravy is a big LOL.

This kid Laba has a chance to be something pretty good for a 4th round pick.

 

[E-Train]

Should’ve been done a year ago but better late than never. Get him right in the Wolfpack lineup and ready to complete for a role in camp

 

[tiggles]

I sympathize with people's complaints about the way young guys are handled, but Laba has a pretty clear path to the 3C spot if he shows enough between now and the start of next season.

 

[Fitzy]

I have a good feeling about this kid like a lot of us do. I do think he's a wing at the NHL level though.

 

[McRanger92]

Rumor was the Rangers were in on guys like Novak and Laughton and Ryan McLeod. I think Laba can be a comparable 3C to those guys sooner than later. I think it's telling how quick they got this done in time for him to start playing games in Hartford.

 

[Overcast]

Rumor was the Rangers were in on guys like Novak and Laughton and Ryan McLeod. I think Laba can be a comparable 3C to those guys sooner than later. I think it's telling how quick they got this done in time for him to start playing games in Hartford.

Gonna need a pundit to confirm that "great skater" comments. Might be too good to be true.

Cool news. Kid was a monster on FOs all season for CC.

 

[GAGLine]

I have a good feeling about this kid like a lot of us do. I do think he's a wing at the NHL level though.

What are you basing that on?

 

[Mac n Gs]

I'm really happy that he's finally signed. He's improved yearly and has been one of the main driving engines for Colorado College for the last three years, including some highlight reel moments. I wouldn't be too shocked if he's already getting NHL minutes next season, and he seems like the type of kid to seize and opportunity and run with it when given the chance.

Let's hope Drury gets Perreault signed next; I'd burn the first year of his ELC too if needed.

 

[mike14]

Just wondering what line is Will Cuylle, a 23 year old in his second year, currently playing on?

It's just the dumbest, laziest take to begin with. And then to include Laf, Kk and Chytil?
As a collective we are very weird at times...

 

[Fitzy]

What are you basing that on?

Completely my own little brain-games when I'm trying to think thrugh the NCAA to NHL projection.

I try to look for what kinds of elements in a college hockey player's game will translate.
Kreider it was obvious, even when he wasn't scoring much, what kind of NHL player he could be, eve though he didn't always play that game at BC.
McDonagh and Brendan Smith- Smith was the PP guy and the big offense at the college level because he had a better shot.
McDonagh, you could tell he'd hav a little more at the NHL level because you need to create space for yourself, and he was able to do tht with his skating.
Hagelin I wiffed on- I had no idea he'd be a jitterbug. He played very east west in the NCAA and someone smarter than I am told him that pace was going to be the way he succeeded here.
With Laba, it's his offensive zone creativity. He will have a much longer leash to take risks, play with an edge, and use his pace on the wing. I don't see his puck-carrying skills through he neutral zone to be what we'd need from a center.

I don't know how Tanner Glass sees him. It's something I'm interested to find out. And I could certainly be wrong as NYR have a big old gaping hole at the 3C spot that I'm sure everyone would be very enthusiastic if he was able to fill.

But I see a player better able to hone his offense at wing. But in fairness I said the same thing about Dubinsky and he did pretty decently at center.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Nice. Definitely one many have been waiting for.

 

[noncents]

good. this kid cares

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

We'll see if it translates because it's harder to play the way he did in college as you move up but net drive is a real thing for this player. He's toppled over more than a few goalies en route to scoring.

Still think he should have turned pro a year earlier but can't fault him if he really though that CC had a chance to win. Sometimes it doesn't work out the way you were hoping it would.

Not that it's really relevant to anything, but I think Laba's development really stresses the importance of going to the right program instead of a "big" program if you're a 2nd or 3rd tier guy. Someone like Perreault is going to get his minutes no matter where he goes but when you're a longer shot, the minutes and reps are so important and you're not likely to get them on a roster that has 5+ first rounders and a half dozen other NHL draft picks.

He played in all situations basically from the second he stepped foot on campus and it's paid off massively. Look at his trajectory vs someone like Brody Lamb (who is objectively the more talented player.)

Completely my own little brain-games when I'm trying to think thrugh the NCAA to NHL projection.

I try to look for what kinds of elements in a college hockey player's game will translate.
Kreider it was obvious, even when he wasn't scoring much, what kind of NHL player he could be, eve though he didn't always play that game at BC.
McDonagh and Brendan Smith- Smith was the PP guy and the big offense at the college level because he had a better shot.
McDonagh, you could tell he'd hav a little more at the NHL level because you need to create space for yourself, and he was able to do tht with his skating.
Hagelin I wiffed on- I had no idea he'd be a jitterbug. He played very east west in the NCAA and someone smarter than I am told him that pace was going to be the way he succeeded here.
With Laba, it's his offensive zone creativity. He will have a much longer leash to take risks, play with an edge, and use his pace on the wing. I don't see his puck-carrying skills through he neutral zone to be what we'd need from a center.

I don't know how Tanner Glass sees him. It's something I'm interested to find out. And I could certainly be wrong as NYR have a big old gaping hole at the 3C spot that I'm sure everyone would be very enthusiastic if he was able to fill.

But I see a player better able to hone his offense at wing. But in fairness I said the same thing about Dubinsky and he did pretty decently at center.

I don't agree with all of this (esp the puck carrying skills, your wingers can do this too) but I always appreciate a well through out response like this.

 

[McRanger92]

Cuylle
Rempe
Berard
Edstrom
Othmann
Perreault
Sykora
Roobreck
Chmelar
Laba

There's a common theme among these players. Clearly the organization needs to take a step back from their high paid vets and prioritizing the younger guys who come through Hartford. And yes, Perreault should start there for sure. Thats how you build a foundation. High end talent will always be available to us. It's the infrastructure and development we have lacked.

 

[GAGLine]

With Laba, it's his offensive zone creativity. He will have a much longer leash to take risks, play with an edge, and use his pace on the wing. I don't see his puck-carrying skills through he neutral zone to be what we'd need from a center.

I don't agree with all of this (esp the puck carrying skills, your wingers can do this too) but I always appreciate a well through out response like this.

I haven't watched him enough to give a scouting report on his ability to carry the puck, but I agree that the center doesn't always have to be the one transporting the puck up the ice. Panarin very often does that for his line.

People said for a long time that Chytil wasn't a center, despite his very obvious ability to transport the puck through the neutral zone.

Here are a few bits that highlight why I think Laba will be a center at the pro level:

Noah's Arc

Laba blossoms as road warrior for CC, as Tigers' breakthrough season arrives at last.

www.collegehockeynews.com

"He can get from 0-to-60 in two strides," Mayotte said about Laba on The Rink Live podcast. "His athleticism is really what stands out. He's 6-2, 206, and he moves it like he's an undersized skinny guy. And you pair that with his mentality — he's not going to sit on the outside. He's going to put pressure on you if he thinks he has you flat-footed."

Rangers Agree to Terms with Noah Laba | New York Rangers

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Noah Laba on a two-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season. Laba will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack on an amateur tryout (ATO) for the remainder of this

www.nhl.com

Laba, 21, notched 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 29 games with Colorado College (NCHC) this season. Among Tigers skaters, he ranked first in plus/minus (+10), tied for first in goals, tied for second in points and fourth in assists. He also posted a 57.3 percent faceoff win percentage, the fourth highest of any skater in the NCHC.

Last season, he was a CCM/AHCA Division I Second Team All-American and was named the NCHC Defensive Player of the Year.

He has the skating to get up and down the ice. He has the faceoff and defensive abilities needed to be a center. The most pressing question for me is how well his offense will translate. Is he bottom 6, middle 6, or can he be top 6? Bottom 6 is the most likely, but having a young guy who can skate, win faceoffs, and play strong defense on the 3rd line is a valuable commodity.

I see no reason to shift him to wing. If he shows that he can't be a center at the pro level, that's one thing, but we should give him every opportunity to excel at center, especially given our dearth of center prospects.

 

[cheech70]

 

[egelband]

Just wondering what line is Will Cuylle, a 23 year old in his second year, currently playing on?

Please stick to the groupthink standpoint. Thank you.