Rangers’ Laba, Vaakanainen out week-to-week

Both players suffered injuries on Wednesday night, when the Rangers took on the rival New Jersey Devils. No one is sure exactly when Vaakanainen suffered an upper-body injury in the contest. He registered just 3:07 of ice time across five shifts, but exited the contest a little past the halfway mark of the first period.

Laba went down with a lower-body injury in the game, but it’s still unclear what led to his premature departure. He logged 8:40 of ice time, with his last shift near the halfway mark of the middle stanza lasting a whole eight seconds. Laba posted a shot on goal, three hits and two giveaways in a game that saw the Rangers lose 6-3.

Both Vaakanainen and Laba were absent from the lineup when New York lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night as well.

For Vaakainen, this ailment will add to the number of games he has already missed. Along with a lower-body injury keeping him out for a couple of games in November, the 27-year-old has been a healthy scratch for the bulk of the 2025-26 campaign. In the 33 games he has played in, Vaaakanainen has posted just six assists. He has an even plus/minus while averaging 13:48 of ice time.

Laba has been having a solid rookie season with the Rangers. Appearing in 65 of the Rangers’ 69 games thus far, he has scored nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. He has a -1 rating while logging 13:29 of ice time per contest.

The Rangers (28-33-8) hold the worst record in the Eastern Conference, 20 points back of the last Wild Card spot.