After signing Givani Smith and Oliver Kylington to professional tryouts (PTOs) at the end of August, the Carolina Hurricanes added another name to their training camp roster. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman announced that forward Kevin Labanc was joining the Canes on a PTO in a tweet on Sunday morning.
Drafted in the 6th round of the 2014 Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Labanc made his debut with the team early during the 2016-17 season after a brief stint in the AHL. While his rookie campaign wasn't anything outstanding (20 points in 55 games), Labanc started to find his scoring touch during his second and third seasons.
In 2017-18, Labanc reached double digits in goals for the first time, burying 11 shots and recording 40 points. He took it a step further the following season, setting career-highs in every major offensive category. The then 23-year-old finished 6th on a loaded Sharks team with 17 goals and 56 points. He added nine points during the team's run to the Western Conference Finals.
While his numbers dipped a little from there, Labanc remained a decent contributor for the Sharks. He posted 33 points during the COVID-halted season and had 28 points during the COVID-shortened season that followed. A dislocated shoulder and subsequent surgery cut his 2021-22 season short after 21 games, during which he scored six points.
Labanc rebounded from the surgery well, topping 30 points again in a largely healthy season. However, things fell apart in 2023-24. In what became his last season as a Shark, Labanc was in and out of the lineup, playing just 46 games and scoring nine points. He ended his eight-year tenure in San Jose with 225 points in 478 games.
Joining a team on a PTO is nothing new for Labanc. After failing to lock down a contract heading into training camp last year, he signed a PTO with the New Jersey Devils. He performed well enough to earn a deal, signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets shortly before the season began.
Unfortunately, another shoulder injury caused Labanc issues during his only season with the Blue Jackets. He played 34 games before getting surgery in mid-February, costing him the rest of the campaign. Labanc had 12 points in his 34 appearances.
This isn't a new spot for Kevin Labanc. He's had to fight for a roster spot before, so he knows what it takes to impress a coaching staff. While I'm not sure whether it will lead to anything with the Hurricanes, it very well could. Even if it doesn't, it's a great chance for him to showcase his skills to 31 other organizations. It worked once before. Why can't it happen a second time?