Columbus Blue Jackets sign Kevin Labanc after Boone Jenner, Dmitry Voronkov injuries
Kevin Labanc could've signed with the New Jersey Devils.
More: Replay: Columbus Blue Jackets routed by Pittsburgh Penguins in preseason finale
After scoring six goals in four preseason while on a professional tryout offer with the Devils, the opportunity was there. What put the Blue Jackets in a better position to get the 28-year old forward's signature on a one-year contract worth $775,000 was a better opportunity. Labanc is now heading to Columbus to help fill a big void after the Jackets lost two "top nine" forwards this past week to longer-term issues ― including captain Boone Jenner with a fluke upper-body injury in practice Friday.
“Within 14 hours, you lose two of your top nine guys," Blue Jackets president of hockey operations/general manager Don Waddell said Saturday. "We were tracking all these (PTO) guys. (Labanc) had a tough year last year, but if you go back, he’s been a goal-scorer. He’s scored a lot of goals."
Labanc's career NHL scoring line includes 82 goals, 143 assists and 225 points in 478 games, all with the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in 2014 (sixth round). He finished last season with just 2-7-9 in 46 games after falling out of favor with former Sharks coach David Quinn.
Now, Labanc could step into the right wing spot on the second line with the Blue Jackets, who have Adam Fantilli centering that line with veteran James van Riemsdyk on the left. Meanwhile, there's a big vacancy at left wing on the third line after Dmitry Voronkov sustained an upper-body injury during an innocuous collision Thursday on his first shift against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Voronkov, who scored 18 goals as a rookie last season, toggled between the second and third lines this preseason. He started at left wing on the third line against Pittsburgh, skating with center Cole Sillinger at center and Kent Johnson at right wing. Stepping into the Voronkov void now might be rookie Mikael Pyyhtia, an unheralded Finnish forward who made his NHL debut toward last season and helped the Cleveland Monsters make a deep run in the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs.
Through seven preseason games, he's drawn the attention of coaches and front office evaluators alike.
“He’s not afraid," Waddell said. "He protects the puck, and he’s got really good hockey sense, things you can’t teach. We’ve just got to remember ... he’s a second year pro.”
Other internal candidates in the final mix to provide forward depth include rookie James Malatesta and Dylan Gambrell, another 28-year old former Sharks forward with 233 NHL games to his credit. Owen Sillinger, Cole's older brother, was assigned to Cleveland on Saturday but was told by Waddell, coach Dean Evason and Monsters GM Chris Clark to stay ready in case he's needed.
As for Labanc, who had 6-1-7 in the preseason for the Devils, the opportunity to revive his NHL career is now glowing in front of him. When he signed the contract with the Jackets on Friday night, Labanc was in New Jersey rather than with the Devils in Prague, Czechia ― where they helped open the NHL's regular season by sweeping the Buffalo Sabres a two game global series.
"I’m not too worried about the fourth line, to be honest," Waddell said. "If we’re going to do something, we need somebody who can play up in the lineup a little bit, and nobody’s giving away real good players unless they have bad contracts. (Labanc) had the option of signing with Jersey, but there’s much more opportunity with us right now.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets sign Kevin Labanc after losing Jenner, Voronkov
