Former San Jose Shark could be a surprise PTO invite at Maple Leafs training camp
The Toronto Maple Leafs could land themselves a potential diamond in the rough by inviting former Sharks winger Kevin Labanc to training camp on a PTO.
Injuries plagued the 28-year-old Labanc during two of the past three seasons, but the free agent winger is looking to prove himself this season and get his career back on track.
Although the Leafs have most of their roster sorted for next season, there are still a handful of questions. What happens with Nick Robertson and Jani Hakanpaa? Will one of Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten snag a spot up front in camp? Who will replace Tyler Bertuzzi on the top line this season? Those are just some of the questions that Leaf fans are still waiting for answers to, but GM Brad Treliving openly said he is still looking at making additions with five weeks until training camp.
One of those additions could be Labanc. With just $1.275M in cap space, a contract is less likely to start, but a PTO would allow the Leafs to see if Lebanc fits into their new style of play under head coach Craig Berube without committing dollars and a roster spot to him.
Lebanc did not live up to the four-year, $4.75M AAV that he is coming off of thanks to injuries in two of the past three seasons and having put up just nine points in 46 games during the 2023-24 season.
At 5'11, 185 pounds, Labanc isn't the biggest, but he isn't afraid to be physical either, having 61 hits last season in those 46 games. Would he come in and replace Bertuzzi on the top line in Toronto? Probably not, but there's certainly some potential there for Labanc to come in and play a significant role in the top-9.
The question remains, would he consider signing a professional try-out agreement with the Leafs? He very well might consider it, given the opportunity that would be there for him if he did.
Source: Hockey Reference
Kevin Labanc Stats
| POLL | ||
AOUT 19 | 1825 ANSWERS Former San Jose Shark could be a surprise PTO invite at Maple Leafs training camp Should the Leafs sign Kevin Labanc to a PTO? | ||
| Yes | 1052 | 57.6 % |
| No | 773 | 42.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
