The New Jersey Devils have invited another player to join training camp on a professional tryout (PTO).
General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced that the team signed former San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc to a PTO on Monday morning. He joins goaltender Michael Hutchinson and defensemen Jakub Zboril and Andy Welinski.
Labanc, 28, appeared in 46 games for the Sharks last season, earning nine points (two goals, seven assists). It was a steep drop from his 15 goals and 33 points in 2022-23.
Dec 9, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) , right wing Kevin Labanc (62) and center Chris Tierney (50) celebrate against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Max Miller of The Hockey News provided insight into Labanc after covering the winger last season in San Jose.
“Labanc will work hard, whether he is in or out of the lineup. He has had offensive success in the NHL before but hasn’t found that form as of late,” Miller said. “He is a solid forechecker and could contribute offensively from time to time in a depth forward role.”
That offensive success came in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, when he earned 40 and 56 points, respectively, while averaging 14 minutes of ice time.
The winger played amateur junior hockey in New Jersey, including in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.
The Brooklyn, New York native has 82 goals and 225 points in 478 NHL games, all as a member of the Sharks. San Jose selected the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward 171st overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Labanc was a teammate of Devils winger Timo Meier in San Jose.
Related: Sharks Players Dish on Former Teammate Timo Meier Ahead of Game vs. Devils