Trade deadline: Why it behooves the Sharks to play Labanc now

The San Jose Sharks are giving forward Kevin Labanc a greater chance at success on Saturday night when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks, it would seem, are giving forward Kevin Labanc a greater chance at success on Saturday night when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets at SAP Center.

Instead of playing Labanc on the fourth line, where he’s been at various times this season, the Sharks’ coaching staff will have the winger join the third line with Nico Sturm and Filip Zadina, who is coming off a four-point night in Calgary on Thursday.

“Just a frickin’ honest effort for 60 minutes,” Sharks coach David Quinn said when asked what he wants to see out of Labanc, who is playing his first game since Jan. 16, “and possess the puck and play a good game.”

Labanc was among the first Sharks players on the ice Saturday morning.

“It feels good,” Labanc told Bay Area News Group on Saturday morning. “Just work hard and have fun with it. And then we got the new (black) jerseys coming out, so I’m sure it’ll be buzzing. It’s Saturday. I’m excited.”

It’s unusual for a coach coming off a win to change his lineup for the next game.

But Quinn said he wanted to get Labanc, who had been a healthy scratch for eight straight games, a chance to play again, while also creating more balance among the forward lines. Jacob MacDonald will come out of the lineup for Labanc.

“I just liked that look better than just replacing Labanc for McDonald,” Quinn said.

Of course, if the Sharks want to trade Labanc, as the player’s agent, Mike Curran, and general manager Mike Grier have indicated that they’re both working towards, then it behooves everyone to get the New York City native back on the ice.

Labanc, at his best, can be an offensive contributor for any playoff-contending team, as his 216 points in his first 432 NHL games would indicate. He can be a dynamic playmaker on a power play.

Too often, though, Labanc’s game at even strength has been unsteady, a major reason why he has been in Quinn’s doghouse at times this season.

Going into Saturday. Labanc, a pending unrestricted free agent, had just seven points and was averaging a career-low 11:47 in ice time per game.

From a financial perspective, Labanc’s contract has an average annual value of $4.725 million. To deal Labanc, the Sharks might have to use their final retention spot on whatever the winger’s remaining cap hit is by the March 8 trade deadline. That might hamper, though, efforts to trade some of the Sharks’ other pending UFA’s

In other words, it’s going to be a challenge for Grier to get a deal done for Labanc. But by playing him, there’s at least a better chance, or so it would seem.

For Saturday’s game, scouts from the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Winnipeg Jets, the New York Rangers, and the Blue Jackets were credentialed.

Asked if this was an opportunity for Labanc to regain his trust, Quinn said, “When he’s playing well, I trust him. It’s like any player. He knows what he needs to do. There is no gray area.

“He’s had some good games this year. There’s a lot that goes into it. He’s just got to be more consistent. Usually, when a player isn’t in the lineup, it’s the consistency piece.”

For his part, Labanc, 28, just wants to play a simple, smart game Saturday. After sitting out for so long, it’s a challenge for any player to quickly get back up to speed.

“I don’t think anything fancy for me,” Labanc said. “It’s going to be chip it in, chip it out, get it in deep. Play a simple game. Nothing too crazy.

“Get shots through, work hard, backcheck, forecheck. Like I said, nothing crazy or fancy.”

“It’s hard when you’re not in and you want to help, you want to be out there with your teammates,” Sharks forward Luke Kunin said. “(Labanc’s) been working hard in practice, doing everything he can to get back in.

“Happy for him to get in tonight and hopefully he can help us out.”

Asked if he’s spoken to Grier or his agent about where things stand, Labanc said. “That’s conversations that they have behind closed doors, so I’ll let them handle it.”