The New Jersey Devils have extended training camp invitations to two defensemen. On Monday, general manager Tom Fitzgerald revealed that the team has signed Kevin Labanc and Andy Welinski to professional tryout contracts.
This will mark a significant shift for Kevin Labanc, who has spent his entire professional career with the San Jose Sharks. The Staten Island, New York native was drafted by San Jose in the sixth round, 171st overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season and became a steady presence on the Sharks’ defense.
Labanc truly emerged during the 2018-19 season, setting career highs with 17 goals and 56 points. He played a key role in San Jose’s run to the Western Conference Final, which remains the franchise’s most recent playoff appearance.
However, Labanc faced injury issues that led to a shortened 2021-22 season, and he played only 46 games last season for a Sharks team that finished at the bottom of the NHL standings. Over his 478 NHL games, the 28-year-old has recorded 82 goals and 143 assists for 225 points, along with 14 points in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Labanc’s previous contract with the Sharks was a four-year deal with an average annual value of $4.725 million.
Andy Welinski, meanwhile, is seeking his first NHL contract in two years. The Duluth, Minnesota native signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers in July 2022 but was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in February 2023.
Welinski signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the St. Louis Blues last fall but did not make the team. He then joined the Iowa Wild, the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, but was released in March and subsequently finished the season with the Charlotte Checkers. Over 35 games with the Checkers, the 31-year-old defenseman scored three goals and 10 points.
Welinski, a former Minnesota-Duluth player, was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, in the 2011 draft. He spent most of his career in the minors but had brief NHL stints with the Ducks during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
In 46 NHL games, Welinski has recorded one goal and five assists, and played three playoff games with the Ducks in 2018. In 319 AHL games, he has accumulated 42 goals and 110 assists, including 21 points in 52 Calder Cup Playoff games.
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