Rangers Lose Two Players to Injuries: 'Week to Week'

Center Noah Laba and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen will miss time with lower- and upper-body injuries, respectively.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:41am

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The New York Rangers will be without center Noah Laba and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen for the foreseeable future, as both players are considered 'week to week' with injuries sustained in the team's recent loss to the New Jersey Devils. The absences will force the Rangers to shuffle their lineup and adjust their penalty kill and defensive pairings.

Why it matters

The Rangers have already dealt with a number of key injuries this season, including to players like forward J.T. Miller and defenseman Adam Fox. The latest injuries to Laba and Vaakanainen will only add to the challenges the team faces in maintaining their playoff positioning in the competitive Metropolitan Division.

The details

Laba, the Rangers' third-line center, and Vaakanainen, a third-pairing defenseman, both exited the loss to the Devils early and did not travel with the team to their next game. Head coach Mike Sullivan said neither player will require a stint on injured reserve, but they will be 'week to week' as they recover. The absences will force the Rangers to shuffle their lineup, with J.T. Miller moving to the third line and Taylor Raddysh getting bumped up. The team will also need to adjust their penalty kill and defensive pairings without Laba and Vaakanainen.

  • On March 22, 2026, the Rangers announced that Noah Laba and Urho Vaakanainen would be 'week to week' with injuries.
  • Laba and Vaakanainen were injured in the Rangers' loss to the Devils on March 22, 2026.

The players

Noah Laba

The Rangers' third-line center who has contributed 9 goals and 21 points this season.

Urho Vaakanainen

A third-pairing defenseman for the Rangers who has appeared in 33 games this season.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the New York Rangers.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, they're going to be week to week.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach

What’s next

The Rangers will need to continue adjusting their lineup and rotations without Laba and Vaakanainen, who are both considered 'week to week' with their respective injuries. The team faces a stretch of 9 out of their next 10 games at home, which could provide an opportunity to solidify their playoff positioning despite the latest injury setbacks.

The takeaway

The Rangers' injury woes continue to mount, as they now must cope with the absences of key contributors Noah Laba and Urho Vaakanainen. The team's ability to adapt and overcome these challenges will be crucial as they look to maintain their standing in the competitive Metropolitan Division playoff race.