The Sharks reassigned rookie forward Kevin Labanc to the Barracuda, days before the Sharks’ top affiliate open the Calder Cup playoffs with a first round series against the Stockton Heat.
Labanc, who was voted as the team’s “Rookie of the Year” by local media, scored 8 goals and 12 assists in 55 games in the NHL this season. He played in five of the Sharks’ last six regular season games, but did not dress for any of San Jose’s first four postseason games against the Edmonton Oilers.
The 21-year-old will provide a boost to the Barracuda’s Calder Cup run. In 19 games, Labanc scored six goals and 13 assists, good enough for second on the team in points per game.
That rate was good enough for third among rookies across the AHL who played a minimum of 15 games, behind Jake Guentzel (1.27 points/game) and Brendan Perlini (1.12).
The Barracuda’s first round series against Stockton begins at the SAP Center on Friday at 7:00 PM, the first of three postseason games in San Jose this weekend. The Sharks will host the Oilers Saturday night for Game 6, and the Barracuda will host the Heat for Game 2 Sunday afternoon at 3:00.
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