Game #61: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers Open Thread
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It's the final New York Rangers game ahead of Friday's trade deadline, which means the next time they play, the lineup could look different. The Rangers came just short of completing a four-goal comeback in their last outing against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their opponent, the Toronto Maple Leafs, has lost all five games since the Olympic break ended.
Rangers forwards Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick will not play for roster-management reasons. Blueshirts captain J.T. Miller was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury after the game. The Rangers have also recalled Juuso Parssinen and Jaroslav Chmelar and have sent down Scott Morrow and Brendan Brisson. Adam Edstrom is also expected to return to the line up for the Rangers. The Toronto Maple Leafs traded center Nic Roy ahead of the game while Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann were held out of the team's last game for trade-related reasons.
Hearing Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick will not play tonight for #NYR vs. Maple Leafs. Roster management.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) March 5, 2026
Where to Watch
Cable/Network TV: MSG 2, NHL website, NHL app, and the Gotham Sports app
National Broadcast: ESPN+
Radio: 880 AM
Player to Watch: Noah Laba
While it was Gabe Perreault's three point night that stole the show against the Blue Jackets, he isn't the only youngster to keep an eye on. When healthy, Noah Laba has consistently been the Rangers third line center. Laba continues to prove that he belongs in the NHL despite entering the season not on the radar of many. If the Rangers are going to find success as they enter this retool, they are going to need to prioritize his development.
With speculation that Vincent Trocheck will be traded, Laba could be forced to step up into the second-line center spot. While he has been very strong defensively, if he hopes to become a long-term option in the top six, he needs to improve his offensive game. Through 57 games this season, he has 16 points, the most among rookies on the Rangers. Laba has been one of the only young players to have a mainstay in the lineup, and hopefully he is around for a long time to come.
