Kevin Labanc
| Birthday: 1995-12-12 | Position: RW |
| Eligible for draft: 2014 | Shoots: Right |
| Drafted: 2014 | Height: 5-10 |
| Acquired: 6th round (171st overall), 2014 | Weight: 186 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- D
History
2010-11: Kevin Labanc appeared in five games with the New Jersey Rockets junior team in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and was the second-leading scorer for the Rockets’ Metropolitan League team. He had 1 assist with 2 penalty minutes in AJHL play. Labanc scored 13 goals with 33 assists in 36 games, trailing only 17-year-old Joseph Gambardella, and had 16 penalty minutes. He scored 1 goal in two Met League playoff games. Labanc was selected by Barrie in the sixth round (103rd overall) in the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.
2011-12: Labanc committed to playing college hockey at Notre Dame in 2014-15 in August and moved to Ann Arbor to skate for the USA NTDP U17 team; representing the USA in the 2012 World Hockey Challenge. In 52 games for the NTDP U17 team he scored 5 goals with 17 assists and had 24 penalty minutes. Labanc had no points and 4 penalty minutes in five games as the USA U17 team won a silver medal at the WHC; falling 7-4 to Russia in the gold medal game.
2012-13: Labanc returned to Ann Arbor for his second season in the NTDP — skating for the U18 squad — and played for the silver medal-winning USA U18 team at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Sochi, Russia. He scored 9 goals with 12 assists and had 28 penalty minutes in 62 games for the NTDP U18 team. Labanc scored 1 goal and had an even plus/minus with no penalties in seven games at the WJC.
2013-14: Labanc signed a contract with Barrie in July — foregoing college hockey. Skating in 65 of 68 regular season games for the Colts as an OHL rookie he scored 11 goals with 24 assists and was +3 with 20 penalty minutes. Barrie finished third in the Central Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Labanc scored 3 goals with 4 assists and was +2 with 4 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games. He was ranked 115th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by San Jose in the sixth round (171st overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft.
2014-15: Labanc was the OHL’s sixth-leading scorer in his second season with Barrie as the Colts finished first in the Central Division. He scored 31 goals with 76 assists and was +13 with 55 penalty minutes in 68 regular season games. After finishing ahead of North Bay in the Central Division the Colts lost to the Battalion in a second-round series. Labanc scored 2 goals with 4 assists and had an even plus/minus with 8 penalty minutes in nine playoff games.
Talent Analysis
Labanc is a shifty forward who is skilled in 5-on-5 play and especially dangerous on the power play. He has strong puck possession skills and an ability to generate offense. His ability to control the puck on the man-advantage is impressive. He has a physical edge to his game to match his offensive skills.
Future
Labanc will attend his second training camp with the Sharks and barring any major surprises will return to Barrie for his third OHL season in 2015-16. The 19-year-old has yet to sign an entry-level deal with San Jose and with overage forward Joseph Blandisi no longer around Labanc he will be heavily-scrutinized to see whether he can match the production of his breakout season a year ago. Long-term Labanc projects as a middle line forward with a skill set that suggests he can be dangerous on the power play.
