2 Sharks forwards the Detroit Red Wings need to inquire about
By Bob Heyrman
Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman needs to pick up the phone and call Mike Grier regarding the availability of forward Kevin Labanc.
Kevin Labanc is certainly flying under the radar across the league, but he’s proven to be the type of winger any team would enjoy on their club. The soon-to-be 27-year-old right-handed shot is currently sixth in scoring on the Sharks with four goals and 13 points over the first 25 games of the season. Labanc is averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time per night but maintains a stellar Corsi For Percentage of 57.4%.
Labanc also leads the Sharks with a Relative Corsi For Percentage of 12.5% during even strength situations. In comparison, Filip Hronek is the current leader in this category for the Detroit Red Wings with a 6.7% mark. Tyler Bertuzzi does have a better number at 7.3%, but only a nine-game sample size.
With the plethora of injuries the Detroit Red Wings have suffered this season should be in the market to add a top-nine forward, if not for a playoff push, someone with term heading into next season. Labanc checks the boxes. Labanc is due $4.7 million next season, the final year of his current deal, before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Labanc recorded just three goals and six points over 21 games last season. He’s off to a much better start in 2022-23. Over his six-plus seasons with the Sharks, Labanc has scored 69 goals and 196 points over 385 games to date.