NHL analyst optimistic Maple Leafs can land free agent Kevin Labanc

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Daniel Lucente
August 19, 2024 (11:47)

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James Reeve is an NHL analyst of TheLeafsNation and has sent an urgent message to GM Brad Treliving of the Maple Leafs: sign Kevin Labanc.

Kevin Labanc has been a free agent since the period began on July 1st. Prior to this, he had just played out his four-year $18.9M contract with the San Jose Sharks.

He really struggled last season on a bottom feeding Sharks team, having only recorded nine points in 46 games. Labanc did deal with injuries though, so had he been healthy it could have been a whole different story. The Maple Leafs recently lost Tyler Bertuzzi up front, and have not signed anyone yet to replace him, and analyst James Reeve really believes he would be the perfect fit in Toronto.

«Well, first of all, the team has a Nick Robertson-size hole they likely need to fill on the roster, with the 22-year-old looking for a move elsewhere after struggling to truly cement his place within the team. While predominantly a left winger, Robertson has lined up on the right often enough as injuries and adjustments were made under previous head coach Sheldon Keefe. Losing a talented winger, should the Leafs budge and accept his trade request before the in-season deadline for him to sign a contract,» Reeve wrote.

«Outside of Robertson, the Leafs' right side could do with better strength, with Calle Järnkrok and Ryan Reaves, who combined for 14 goals between them last season, some of the players to feature on that side behind stars Mitch Marner and William Nylander,» Reeve added. «With Reaves, the team gets exactly zero offensive upside, and Järnkrok, who has his own offensive limitations, could be better suited to playing center. So, adding Labanc, who could potentially add 15 or more goals to the team's bottom end, would be an upgrade.»

James Reeve believes that the Leafs should at least give Kevin Labanc a professional tryout (PTO) to come to training camp and try to earn a roster spot. If he were to earn a spot, he would likely slot in on the third line as a right winger and would definitely help contribute to the team's overall scoring.

In his NHL career, Kevin Labanc has played in 478 NHL games and scored 82 goals and 178 assists for a total of 225 points. He hit a career-high during the 2018-19 NHL season when he scored 17 goals and 39 assists for 56 points. Labanc was drafted in 2014 during the 6th round with the 171st overall pick by the Sharks. Labanc had an absolutely phenomenal career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Barrie Colts. In his final season in that league before making the jump to the NHL, Labanc hit career-highs in every category. He scored 39 goals and had a whopping 88 assists for 127 points in his 65 games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have absolutely nothing to lose to sign Kevin Labanc to a PTO. It would cost them nothing to have him compete in training camp, and should they like what they see, they can offer him a short-term contract such as a one or two-year deal.

Source: HockeyDB
Kevin Labanc Stats