Report: Sharks' Forward Given Permission To Find Trade

San Jose Sharks beat writer Max Miller has dropped a report in The Hockey News that the team is working with forward Kevin Labanc and his agent to find the 8-year veteran a "fresh start." 

Labanc will be a healthy scratch in the Sharks' game Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets for the seventh consecutive contest. And in the 32 games he has played, he's mustered only 11:47 of ice time a night, by far the least of his career. 

Labanc told Miller he really feels a change of scenery is in order. 

I've been in this league for eight years now, so I kind of understand the business side of it. It's just an understanding that it's not working here; maybe go somewhere else and get a fresh start. Maybe when you were younger, you thought you'd be with the same team for your whole career, but that's not necessarily the case. 

Labanc's agent Mike Curran talked with Miller in the report about his client's situation: 

"We are working with the team to find him a new opportunity in the NHL either by the trade deadline or the off-season. Regardless of the outcome, I know he will continue to work as hard as he can to get back in the lineup and give the Sharks his best effort."

The 28-year-old has often been a top-nine forward during his time in San Jose, but this year has been different. "We just think we've got 12 guys that have been playing better than him," head coach David Quinn said recently. 

Labanc has two goals and seven points and 32 games this season with a minus-16 rating. His high-water mark with the Sharks was in 2018-19 when he posted 17 goals and 56 points in 82 games. He's in the final year of a four-year contract that carries a $4.725 million cap hit.

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