Noah Laba Bio
Noah Laba (born August 4, 2003) is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected in the fourth round, 111th overall, by the Rangers in the 2022 NHL entry draft, he developed through the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the collegiate ranks at Colorado College before signing his first professional contract in March 2025. Known for his two-way game, skating, and physical presence, Laba made the Rangers’ opening night roster for the 2025–26 NHL season and opened his NHL career with points in his first multi-game stretch.
Early Life and Background
Noah Laba was born on August 4, 2003, in Northville, Michigan, to Sarkis and Leslie Laba. He grew up alongside two brothers, Devin and Jaden, and two sisters, Nina and Ari, in a close-knit household that valued athletic participation and family support. His father, Sarkis Laba, is originally from Lebanon and immigrated to Windsor, Ontario, as a teenager before settling in the United States, giving the family a blended cultural background rooted in perseverance and hard work.
From a young age, Laba showed a strong interest in hockey and trained in the competitive youth circuits of southeast Michigan, where his size and skill quickly drew attention. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 214 pounds, he developed the kind of physical profile that coaches value at higher levels of the sport. His family’s encouragement and his early dedication to the game helped him earn a path into junior hockey with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL.
Path to Hockey
Laba’s progression through organized hockey accelerated when he joined the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, one of the top development leagues for amateur players in North America. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded nine goals and ten assists in 46 games, establishing himself as a reliable two-way presence in his first full junior campaign. The following year, in 2021–22, he improved to 15 goals and 24 assists in 50 games, finishing sixth on the Stars in points and tying for fifth in goals while earning increased responsibility in all situations.
His performance with the Lincoln Stars convinced NHL scouts that he was ready for a higher level, and the New York Rangers selected him in the fourth round, 111th overall, of the 2022 NHL entry draft. Rather than turn professional immediately, Laba committed to Colorado College of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), where he would spend three seasons refining his game against older competition. As a freshman in 2022–23, he posted 11 goals and 11 assists in 35 games, recording the most points by a Tigers freshman since Bryan Yoon totaled 26 in 2018–19.
Noah Laba Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Laba opened his major junior career with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, a league long regarded as a primary pipeline to NCAA and NHL opportunities. Across two seasons with the Stars, he developed into a dependable center known for his faceoff work, defensive responsibility, and willingness to play in traffic. His statistical growth from nine goals and ten assists in 2020–21 to 15 goals and 24 assists in 2021–22 reflected a player who was adding offensive creativity to a responsible defensive foundation.
The Rangers’ scouting staff tracked his progress closely during those two seasons, eventually selecting him 111th overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft. The pick reflected confidence in his projectable frame, skating, and hockey sense, even though he was not yet a finished product. By the end of his USHL stint, Laba had positioned himself as one of the more intriguing fourth-round selections in that draft class.
Colorado College Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Laba joined Colorado College for the 2022–23 season and immediately contributed as a freshman, recording 11 goals and 11 assists in 35 games. His 22 points led all Tigers rookies and marked the highest freshman total at the program in several years. Beyond the numbers, he earned the trust of the Colorado College coaching staff by playing a responsible 200-foot game and winning key faceoffs in all three zones.
During the 2023–24 sophomore season, Laba elevated his profile across the NCHC, finishing with 20 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. He led the conference with 16 goals and six game-winning goals during conference play, then powered a 6–2–0 January for the Tigers with seven goals and three overtime game-winners. He was named the NCHC Player of the Month for January 2024, and at the end of the season he earned NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year honors, an All-NCHC First Team selection, and a spot on the AHCA West Second Team All-American squad.
In his junior season of 2024–25, Laba continued to serve as a centerpiece for Colorado College before turning professional. Following the campaign, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers on March 19, 2025, officially concluding his collegiate career. He then joined the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he appeared in 11 games, scored three goals, and added two assists, opening his professional account with a breakaway goal on his first professional shot on goal.
New York Rangers Era (2025–Present)
Laba entered the Rangers’ 2025–26 training camp rated as the organization’s sixth-best prospect by The Athletic. He described his own game as that of a two-way center who can play fast through the neutral zone and contribute defensively, and his strong camp earned him a spot on the Rangers’ opening night roster. Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan praised Laba’s physical stature, skating, and overall readiness for the NHL level during camp.
Laba made his NHL debut on October 7, 2025, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and recorded his first NHL points with two assists against the same opponent on October 11, 2025. He scored his first NHL goal on October 26, 2025, against the Calgary Flames, giving him an early point-per-game offensive contribution. About 30 games into his rookie year, Sullivan noted that Laba’s combination of size, speed, and strength made him most effective when he also added physicality, while acknowledging room to grow in his puck management.
Driving Style and Strengths
Laba is widely described as a prototypical, hard-working, two-way center whose game translates well to today’s NHL. He combines above-average size with strong straight-line skating, wins faceoffs at a reliable rate, and takes pride in defending his own zone before contributing offensively. Scouts have highlighted his scoring touch, defensive reads, and ability to play a fast, north-south game through the neutral zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Laba’s most notable early milestones are his 2023 World Junior bronze medal with the United States, his January 2024 NCHC Player of the Month award, and his NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year honor at the end of that season. He also signed his first NHL contract on March 19, 2025, recorded a goal on his first professional shot on goal in the AHL, and opened his NHL career with points in his first two weeks in the league.
Noah Laba Career Wins
At the NHL level, Noah Laba is in the earliest stages of his professional career and has not yet recorded an NHL regular-season victory tied directly to his individual performance, though he has begun producing points for the Rangers as a rookie forward. His competitive résumé instead rests on team and conference success in the USHL, NCHC, AHL, and international play, as well as a series of individual awards recognizing his two-way impact.
USHL and Collegiate Highlights
During his two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, Laba helped the program develop NHL-ready talent and posted 24 goals and 34 assists in 96 combined regular-season games, finishing among the team’s top producers in 2021–22. At Colorado College, he was a central figure in the Tigers’ rise in the NCHC, leading the conference in goals and game-winning goals during the 2023–24 season and helping Colorado College post a 6–2–0 record in January 2024.
His freshman total of 22 points stood as the best by a Colorado College rookie since 2018–19, and his sophomore awards sweep underscored his value to the program. After signing with the Rangers, he contributed three goals and two assists in 11 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack before earning his NHL opportunity.
Other Wins & Performances
On the international stage, Laba represented the United States at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, appearing in one game as an injury replacement for Tyler Boucher and helping the Americans capture a bronze medal. His selection to that roster reflected his standing among the top American forwards of his draft class and provided an early taste of high-stakes competition.
Noah Laba Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Noah Laba was raised by his father, Sarkis Laba, and his mother, Leslie Laba, alongside siblings Devin, Jaden, Nina, and Ari. Sarkis Laba, originally from Lebanon, immigrated to Windsor, Ontario, as a teenager, and his journey has shaped a family story rooted in resilience, hard work, and opportunity. While the Laba family is not widely known as a multi-generational hockey dynasty, the support structure around Noah has been central to his development.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Laba focuses on his transition to full-time professional life with the New York Rangers organization, splitting time between the NHL roster and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. As a young player early in his rookie season, he has not publicly shared details about a long-term residence, marital status, or children. His family, particularly his parents and siblings, continues to play a visible role in his journey from Northville to the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
Noah Laba’s 2025 calendar year bridges the end of his Colorado College career, his AHL debut, and his entry into the NHL with the New York Rangers. After signing his two-year entry-level contract on March 19, 2025, he joined the Hartford Wolf Pack and produced three goals and two assists in 11 games, opening his professional account with a breakaway goal on his first shot. He used that AHL stretch to refine his game against grown men and to prepare for an NHL training camp invitation.
At Rangers camp in the fall of 2025, Laba was rated the organization’s sixth-best prospect and earned a place on the opening night roster following a strong showing. He made his NHL debut on October 7, 2025, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, picked up his first NHL points with two assists against Pittsburgh on October 11, 2025, and scored his first NHL goal on October 26, 2025, against the Calgary Flames. About 30 games into his rookie campaign, he had already established himself as a regular in the Rangers’ forward group.
Coach Mike Sullivan has praised Laba’s size, skating, and two-way reliability while pointing to puck management as an area for growth. With the Rangers competing in the NHL’s Eastern Conference and Laba playing out the first year of his entry-level deal, his rookie season is shaping up as a foundational year for both the player and the franchise’s ongoing youth movement.