The New York Rangers had a few young players who emerged as contributors near the end of the season once their playoff hopes were diminished.

It was nice to see guys make the most of their opportunities down the stretch, but there was one player who made his presence felt back during training camp. Noah Laba, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, caught the eye of the coaching staff when training camp began.

Last year, he went right from Colorado College to the AHL to begin his professional career. Whatever positive momentum he built was carried over into his first full year as a pro, which ended up being with the Rangers full-time.

Laba beat out Juuso Pärssinen for the third-line center spot on the opening night roster and never relinquished it.…