Devils News
Devils Offer Contract to Key PTO Player, Lose Him Anyway
The New Jersey Devils offered Kevin Labanc the same contract he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. So, why is he going to Ohio?
The Columbus Blue Jackets swept a player on a professional tryout contract (PTO) from right under the feet of the New Jersey Devils. On Saturday, the Blue Jackets announced they signed forward Kevin Labanc to a one-year, one-way contract. The deal is worth $775,000.
That’s, in fact, a league minimum contract.
Labanc signed a PTO with the Devils just ahead of the beginning of training camp. Labanc was coming off his career-worst season, however, was looking to prove he had more hockey left in him. In fact, he explained exactly that when he signed his PTO with the Devils.
READ: Timo Meier Rooting for Kevin Labanc to Sign
“I got a lot of hockey left. I mean, the [San Jose Sharks weren’t] where it needed to be last year,” Labanc explained to New Jersey Hockey Now. “We were rebuilding, so it was tough being in that situation. But, I mean, I see great opportunity, and I see a competitive team here, and you want to be a part of that. So it’s been a great first two days, and you know, that’s where you want to be. I mean, a lot of pressure to make the playoffs, and that’s what you’re fighting for every day, every practice and every game.”
Labanc figures to be in the same position with the Blue Jackets as he was with the Sharks — on a rebuilding bottom-dweller. Perhaps, a new mindset on how he approaches the game. After all, he did score six goals in four games in the preseasons with while on PTO in New Jersey. And he did so without most of the varsity Devils in the lineup.
It was an impressive audition.
So why didn’t the Devils keep Labanc who showed so well in the preseason?
The fact of the matter is they tried. According to Frank Seravalli, general manager Tom Fitzgerald offered Labanc the same exact deal as the Blue Jackets. However, because Columbus extended the contract to Labanc as well, he’s going to Ohio.
That’s not to say he didn’t want to stay in New Jersey. But once Fitzgerald would have signed Labanc, he would have required passing through waivers for a bit of salary cap gymnastics. Therefore, the Blue Jackets would have scooped him up anyway.
The Devils got a good look at a player who started to prove himself right. The 28-year-old does seemingly have a lot of hockey left in him.
Perhaps when the Blue Jackets inevitably sell at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the Devils will be buyers for the player they got to know firsthand in training camp.
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