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What’s next for Rangers after Noah Laba, Urho Vaakanainen injuries
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- What’s next for Rangers after Noah Laba, Urho Vaakanainen injuries
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The New York Rangers might not be competing for a playoff spot, but there's still plenty to glean from the final 13 games of the 2025-26 season. That final stretch could conclude without rookie center Noah Laba or defenseman Urho Vaakanainen.
Laba (lower body) and Vaakanainen (upper body) are week-to-week, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan disclosed Saturday.
Vaakanainen left the ice at 9:53 of the first period in New York's 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Laba followed midway through the second period. Both were scratched Thursday as the Rangers suffered a third-straight loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Laba has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 65 games after breaking camp with the Rangers to begin the season. He missed three games at the beginning of January with an upper-body injury. Vaakanainen has six assists in 33 games in his first full season with the Blueshirts.
Laba and Vaakanainen join Jonathan Quick on New York's injury report. Quick is listed day-to-day; the Rangers recalled 23-year-old goalie Dylan Garand from the American League. Garand is expected to make his NHL debut Sunday or Monday in New York's upcoming back-to-back.
Here's what's next for Rangers after latest injury news
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Lost opportunities
A late-season injury is never ideal, but it could be especially costly for Vaakanainen.
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Laba has been a mainstay on the third line in his rookie season and played well out of the Olympic break, including a five-point spurt (three goals, two assists) in five games from March 7-14. There's little doubt the 22-year-old will have a spot in the lineup when he returns, whether that's before the end of this season or next fall.
Vaakanainen's spot is much less secure. The 27-year-old has been in and out of the lineup since November, missing time due to a lower-body injury, illness, and healthy scratches. He's under contract through 2026-27,but will have to compete for third-pair minutes with the likes of Vincent Iorio, Scott Morrow and any offseason additions the Rangers make to the blue line.
Laba's injury stings in its own right, particularly as the focus shifts from the win column to rookie development. 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault (No. 23 overall) is reaping the benefits of an increased role as he plays alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere on New York's first line.
Laba didn't enjoy the same offensive dominance on the third line, but he gelled next to newcomer Tye Kartye , whom the Rangers claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken in late February. Laba and Kartye were paired together on the penalty kill as well, proving a capable duo with their speedy, high-effort play.
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The Rangers don't have much to play for in the standings , but rookie development is critical to future success. Laba's progress could be cut short if he can't return before New York's regular-season finale on April 15.
Rangers lines: J.T. Miller slots in at third-line center
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With Laba sidelined Thursday against Columbus, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan shifted J.T. Miller away from his usual right-wing spot. Instead, the Blueshirts captain centered the third line, joined by Kartye and Conor Sheary on his wings.
Sullivan deployed the same look at practice Saturday. Taylor Raddysh filled Miller's spot on the second line, playing right wing alongside Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle.
Though Miller has largely played wing this season, the 32-year-old has been active in the face-off dot. He leads the team with a 60.8 faceoff win percentage on 706 attempts. Only Zibanejad and Trocheck have taken more draws for the Rangers this season.
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Minor-league callup Connor Mackey stepped into the lineup Thursday in place of Vaakanainen on the third pair. The 29-year-old remained there at practice Saturday, skating next to Will Borgen.
Iorio skated as an extra. The 23-year-old defenseman, claimed off waivers by New York in January, was scratched for a seventh consecutive game Thursday. He hasn't dressed since March 7, after logging a season-low 9:09 against the Devils.
Struggling Rangers penalty kill takes hit with Laba injury
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New York's power play has thrived since the Olympic break, ranking third in the League at 29.4 percent. The same cannot be said about the penalty kill.
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The Rangers' penalty kill ranks dead last since the NHL season resumed on Feb. 25 following the Olympic break, allowing 12 power-play goals on 37 shorthanded opportunities (67.6 percent). New York allowed a power-play goal in four consecutive games, including two to the Devils on Wednesday.
Now, the Rangers lose a prominent penalty killer in Laba. Sheary and Raddysh took on shorthanded minutes Thursday against the Blue Jackets and project to see more PK time in Laba's absence.
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