Kevin Labanc Lands PTO With Metropolitan Team

Training camps will be opening across the NHL within days, and unsigned unrestricted free agents will be anxious to land a spot to show their wares. Eight-year San Jose Sharks veteran Kevin Labanc has now got himself a tryout with the New Jersey Devils, agreeing to a PTO with the team.

More #NJDevils PTO news: according to Sheng Peng, the Devils are brining in forward Kevin Labanc.

Labanc, 28 years old, had a 56-point season back in 2018-19. Career average over 82 games of 38 pts & 152 shots.

Can play either wing, listed at 5’11”, 185 pounds.
— Devils Army Blog (@DevilsArmyBlog) September 15, 2024

The 28-year-old had his least productive season last year, recording just nine points on two goals in 46 games with an ugly plus/minus rating of -27, in just 11:37 ice time per night—also a career low.

A statistical analysis of Labanc's defense, in fact, showed that he was among the worst among Sharks forwards while at even-strength. When Labanc was on the ice, the Sharks were outscored on a 36-9 basis.

He and Sharks head coach David Quinn were never on the same page, and Labanc faced a number of healthy scratches last season.

Perhaps Timo Meier, a former Sharks teammate of his, put in a good word for Labanc with the Devils? We'll see if reuniting the two can help him regain some of his mojo. He'll try to land himself a depth scoring role in the bottom six. He does have five double-digit goal seasons to his record, and at just 28, it's hard to say he's completely washed up.

In New Jersey, it's also a homecoming of sorts for Labanc, who is from Staten Island, and played on a number of New Jersey youth teams growing up.