SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Zamboni at the Sharks’ main practice rink was still resurfacing the ice and the team’s scheduled scrimmage remained about 20 minutes away when Kevin Labanc – the first player out of the dressing room – opened the gate and began to glide around.
If it was an example of Labanc’s impatience to get this season going, well, he can be forgiven.
A little over nine months after a separated shoulder – and subsequent surgery – prematurely ended a disappointing 2021-2022 season, Labanc is back to full strength and eager for a fresh start under a new regime.
He’s getting one under coach David Quinn, who placed the Brooklyn-born forward on the Sharks’ second line with captain Logan Couture and free agent signing Oskar Lindblom for the start of training camp.
“I’ve always felt confident in my game,” Labanc said. “I know what I can bring, and I know what I can bring to this organization.
“Couture and Lindblom, it feels good playing with those guys. We’ve got some pretty good chemistry right off the bat. We’ll see where that takes us this season.”
There’s no guarantee, of course, that Labanc will still be on the second line once the regular season begins Oct. 7 at O2 Arena in Prague against the Nashville Predators.
But Quinn is also aware of how much of a difference-maker Labanc can be when he’s at his best and quite frankly, the Sharks do not have a ton of other viable options for the position, with William Eklund being one if he has an outstanding camp.
Right now, though, the job is Labanc’s to lose. During Friday’s scrimmage, Labanc scored two goals and hit the cross-bar with another shot, as he and his linemates largely controlled the play whenever they were on the ice.
“I’ve certainly liked what I’ve seen so far,” Quinn said of Labanc on Friday. “Rang one off the crossbar and then 30 seconds later, he puts one in the back of the net, which is what he does very well.
“We’re going to need him to be healthy and have a full season at our disposal.”
The Sharks finished 32nd and last in the NHL in 5-on-5 scoring last season with just 142 goals in 82 games. In all situations, San Jose was 30th with an average of 2.57 goals per game. Only four Sharks players finished with more than 50 points, and one of them, Brent Burns, is now with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Sharks are hopeful Lindblom can turn into a 20-goal scorer, and that they can get more offense from a refurbished bottom-six forward group. Erik Karlsson will be counted on to produce, but other defensemen need to chip in more points to help replace Burns’ production on the blue line.
What the Sharks would also love to see is a bounce-back season from Labanc, who is entering the third year of a four-year, $18.9 million contract extension. Labanc had just six points in 21 games last season before his injury, and while he was active, had seen his ice time drop by an average of over three minutes per game to 13:17 per night.
Labanc’s issues, though, have mostly been about his play away from the puck. He got off to a great start last season with two power-play goals in his first three games. But the offense started to dry up after that, with little coming at even strength, and the ice time under former coach Bob Boughner noticeably shrunk in November.
It was a regression. Over four seasons from 2017 to 2021, only five Sharks players had more points than Labanc (157), and only three players had more assists (103).
“It’s no secret we need more goals, and he’s a guy who can score,” Couture said of Labanc. “So getting him back to what he does on a regular basis in this league will only help us.”
Now it’s a matter of whether Labanc, who had his name bandied about in trade rumors this offseason, can evolve into a reliable two-way forward. Couture has historically matched up against the opposing team’s top line, and Labanc needs to show he can handle the responsibility of playing against some of the league’s best forwards.
For now, it appears Labanc will get that opportunity, along with the clean slate only a new coaching staff can offer. No wonder he can’t wait to get things going.
“I think he learned an awful lot last year, the situation he went through,” Quinn said. “He worked hard all summer and he’s put himself in a good position. We’re going to need him if we’re going to be the team we think we’re capable of being.”
“I know I have the offensive ability. That’s where I think I excel best in my game,” said Labanc, who was married in June. “I think the rest will take care of itself, We’ve just got to make sure we get off to a good start.”
