Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kevin Labanc will be a healthy scratch on Sunday versus Anaheim. He will exit the lineup after posting six points (one goal, five assists) in 10 games. Labanc was on fire during the preseason and enjoyed a productive start with the Blue Jackets, but he has gone scoreless in back-to-back games while logging limited ice time. James van Riemsdyk will rejoin the action against the Ducks after sitting as a healthy scratch on Saturday versus Los Angeles. The 16-year veteran has produced two goals and four points in 11 appearances this season. He is no longer at his best, and fantasy managers should avoid van Riemsdyk.
Kevin Labanc Inks One-Year Contract With Blue Jackets
Winger Kevin Labanc has signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was a free agent after spending eight seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Columbus snapped up Labanc following a hugely impressive spell he had during the preseason with the New Jersey Devils. The 28-year-old tallied six goals and seven points across four preseason appearances. Since making his debut in 2016-17, Labanc has totaled 225 points (82 goals, 143 assists) in 478 regular-season games. However, he posted only nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 46 games with the Sharks last season.
San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc (upper body) will not be in the lineup Wednesday when the club visits the Seattle Kraken. The winger was the victim of a slew foot at the hands of Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander on Monday and suffered an upper-body injury that will cost him at least one game. His latest injury adds to a frustrating season for a player who appeared to break out with 56 points at age 23 in the 2018-19 season. Labanc has just two assists and a minus-eight rating along with only 18 shots in 13 games on the season. He rebounded somewhat with 15 goals and 33 points on a poor Sharks offense last season but has once again struggled to produce in what should be his prime NHL seasons.
San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc will suit up for his season debut Thursday night at home against the Boston Bruins. It was reported earlier on Thursday that Labanc would be placed on waivers after being a healthy scratch for the club's first three games of the season but in a turn of events, Labanc will make his season and avoid waivers altogether. The 27-year-old seemed to break out with 17 goals and 56 points across 82 games as a 23-year-old in the 2018-19 season but has since struggled to maintain that production. He has recorded just 18 goals and 39 points across 93 games over the last two seasons and has clearly fallen out of favor with the Sharks to begin the 2023-24 campaign.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc (personal) will re-enter the lineup Thursday against St. Louis. He was unavailable for Tuesday's clash with Montreal as Labanc expected the birth of his son. With Timo Meier now out of town, Labanc is the fourth-highest scorer among Sharks forwards, having recorded 25 points across 51 outings. Labanc has already gotten usage on the first line and could get to play an even bigger role after Meier's departure, although his first aim will be to lock up a regular spot in the lineup. The 27-year-old has been a healthy scratch multiple times since the turn of the year and Sharks head coach David Quinn doesn't tend to have much patience with Labanc.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc is set to end a four-game stint in the press box Tuesday against Pittsburgh. He will replace Jonah Gadjovich (upper body) in the lineup. Having earned 25 points in 45 games, Labanc is the team's sixth-highest scorer, but something in his play has clearly irked head coach David Quinn, who has played Labanc in only two of the last 10 games. The 27-year-old re-enters the lineup only as a fourth-liner as well, so Labanc currently finds himself in a very tough spot.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc will miss another game as a healthy scratch Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He was also kept out of the lineup for the final game ahead of the All-Star break and Labanc even had a four-game spell in the press box in January, so things aren't looking great for him in San Jose. Despite being forced to sit out multiple games, Labanc remains the sixth-best scorer on the team with 25 points and has managed 10 goals in 45 games. Noah Gregor has replaced him in the lineup and looks set to continue on the top line Tuesday.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc will remain a healthy scratch for Wednesday's clash with the Stars. It was reported on Tuesday that he will return to action after sitting out Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to New Jersey, but that won't be the case. The 27-year-old has dropped out of the lineup with 10 goals and 15 assists to his name in 43 games. Noah Gregor has taken his spot and will go again Wednesday on the third line. Gregor has picked up only two points in 20 games this season and went scoreless in 15:21 of ice time Monday, so he's not a viable fantasy option.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc will be a health scratch for Monday's matchup against New Jersey. Noah Gregor will come into the lineup for his first appearance since Dec. 27. Labanc had a positive start to the season but has struggled to make an impact lately and now gets a chance to push the reset button. He has tallied 10 goals and 25 points in 43 games this season. Labanc's first opportunity to return comes on Wednesday against Dallas.
Kevin Labanc Suspended For Saturday After Slew-Foot Incident
San Jose Sharks right-winger Kevin Labanc was suspended for one game after slew-footing Tyler Bozak earlier this week. Labanc has had a rough start to the season with just two goals and two assists in 11 games for San Jose. He has just one assist in his previous five games. The last four contests had seen Labanc in more of a middle-six role, at best. The one silver lining is that the forward is starting to shoot the puck more. Labanc did have 10 shots on goal and nine scoring chances in his three previous games. It will be interesting to see what happens when the forward returns early next week.
San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc (upper body) will be back on the ice Wednesday night against Arizona, after missing Monday's 6-4 win over the Coyotes. Labanc, who has 10 goals and 25 points for the year, will skate on the third line with Alexander True and Noah Gregor. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a cold spell with just one point in eight games, but the Coyotes are a struggling team right now, which could help the Brooklyn-born winger to get going again ahead of the final stretch of the season. Josef Korenar will make a fourth consecutive start between the pipes for the Sharks.
Kevin Labanc Records Three-Point Performance Against Ducks
San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc scored a goal and added two assists in Friday's 6-0 win against the Ducks. The 25-year-old recorded his fifth multi-point performance of the season, while forwards Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane each added one goal and one assist in the contest. Labanc has totaled six goals, 10 assists and 16 points through 24 games played, making the fifth-year forward a solid option in deeper fantasy formats moving forward.
Kevin Labanc
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Blue Jackets
