Kevin Labanc Bio
Kevin Labanc is an American professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born on December 12, 1995, in Staten Island, New York, he was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 171st overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Across his career, Labanc has suited up for the San Jose Sharks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Shanghai Dragons, building a reputation as a skilled offensive forward.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Labanc was raised in a hockey household on Staten Island, where his parents settled after emigrating from Slovakia in 1994. His father, Milan Labanc, is a former Slovak professional ice hockey player, while his mother, Anika, raised the family in New York. The family later moved to Brooklyn, where Kevin grew up and where his appreciation for the sport deepened.
Labanc first stepped onto the ice at the Staten Island Skating Pavilion, a local rink that helped introduce him to organized hockey. As a youth, he represented the New Jersey Devils minor ice hockey program at the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, gaining valuable exposure to high-level competition at a young age. He speaks Slovak in addition to English, reflecting his family’s heritage.
Path to Professional Hockey
Labanc continued his development in New Jersey, playing amateur junior hockey in the Youth Hockey League before advancing to the Atlantic Junior Hockey League with the New Jersey Rockets. His play there earned him an invitation to the U.S. National Team Development Program, where he competed in the United States Hockey League and sharpened his game against elite amateur talent.
After completing his time with the U.S. development program, Labanc chose to forgo college hockey and pursue a major junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Barrie Colts. He was originally drafted by the Colts in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection in the sixth round, 103rd overall. As a rookie in 2013–14, he posted 35 points in 65 games, which was enough to draw the attention of NHL scouts and led to his selection by the San Jose Sharks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Kevin Labanc Career
Major Junior Career with the Barrie Colts (2013–2016)
Following his draft by the Sharks, Labanc returned to the Barrie Colts and emerged as one of the top scorers in the Ontario Hockey League. In his next two seasons, he produced back-to-back 100-point campaigns, establishing himself as a dynamic offensive winger. During his 2015–16 overage season, he led the entire OHL with 88 assists and 127 points, earning both the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the top scoring right winger in the league.
Labanc finished his junior career ranked fourth in Barrie Colts history in scoring with 269 points in just 198 games. His consistent production cemented his status as a top professional prospect, and on March 9, 2016, the San Jose Sharks signed him to a three-year entry-level contract. He was immediately assigned to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, where he made his professional debut during their postseason run.
San Jose Sharks Era (2016–2024)
After attending the Sharks’ 2016–17 training camp, Labanc began the year in the AHL with the Barracuda, where he posted 10 points in just six games. That hot start earned him his first recall to the NHL on November 7, 2016, and he made his debut the following night against the Washington Capitals on a scoring line with Logan Couture and Joonas Donskoi. On November 17, 2016, he scored his first NHL goal, assisted by Joe Thornton, against goaltender Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues.
Labanc’s most memorable Sharks moment came during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 7 of the first round against the Vegas Golden Knights, he factored in on all four of San Jose’s third-period goals, recording one goal and three assists, as the Sharks rallied for an overtime victory. That performance made him the first player in NHL postseason history to record four points in a single period of a Game 7. The Sharks were eventually eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the eventual champion St. Louis Blues, but Labanc finished the postseason with four goals and five assists in 20 games. Earlier that season, on February 9, 2019, he had recorded his first NHL hat-trick in a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
On July 8, 2019, Labanc signed a one-year, $1 million contract extension with the Sharks, and on October 10, 2020, he inked a four-year, $18.9 million deal that kept him in San Jose through the 2023–24 season. Over the course of his Sharks tenure, he became a reliable top-six winger known for his playmaking vision and shot.
Columbus Blue Jackets and KHL Transition (2024–Present)
Labanc became an unrestricted free agent during the 2024 offseason and went unsigned through the summer. On September 16, 2024, he accepted an invitation to attend the New Jersey Devils training camp on a professional tryout. After a strong preseason in which he scored six goals in four games, he signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 5, 2024, and spent the 2024–25 season in Ohio.
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Labanc joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout but was released near the end of the preseason. On October 8, 2025, he signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League for the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign, beginning a new chapter of his career in Asia.
Driving Style and Strengths
Labanc is recognized as an offensive winger with high-end playmaking instincts and a deceptive shot. He reads the game well at even strength, finds soft spots in coverage, and has produced effective seasons on scoring lines alongside established centers. His quick hands and creativity around the net have made him especially dangerous on the power play and in transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most significant career moments are his first NHL goal in November 2016, his first hat-trick against the Edmonton Oilers in February 2019, and his historic four-point third period in a Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2019 playoffs. Each milestone underscored his ability to deliver in high-leverage situations.
Kevin Labanc Career Wins
Kevin Labanc has not been credited with major individual championship wins at the NHL level. His most notable achievements have come in the form of personal statistical milestones, postseason records, and individual awards during his junior career with the Barrie Colts.
OHL and Barrie Colts Highlights
During his time in the Ontario Hockey League, Labanc won the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy and the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy in 2015–16 as the top scoring right winger in the league. He also helped lead the Barrie Colts to consistent contention, though the team did not capture an OHL championship during his tenure. He finished his junior career among the franchise’s all-time leaders in points per game.
Kevin Labanc Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Labanc family. His father, Milan Labanc, played professional ice hockey in Slovakia before moving the family to the United States in 1994, settling first on Staten Island and later in Brooklyn. His mother, Anika, supported the family as they established themselves in New York, and Kevin has credited his parents with instilling the work ethic that has carried him through his professional career.
Personal Life
Kevin Labanc currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, though his professional commitments have taken him to California, Ohio, and most recently Shanghai. He maintains ties to his Slovak heritage and speaks the language fluently. Public details about his marital status and children have not been disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been one of transition for Kevin Labanc. After spending the 2024–25 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he entered the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent and joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season. Despite a strong preseason push, he was released before the regular season began, opening the door to a new opportunity overseas.
On October 8, 2025, Labanc signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League for the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign. The move marked his first professional stint outside of North America and gave him a chance to revive his offensive game in a top European league. His early contributions with the Dragons are expected to focus on top-six scoring duties and power-play production.
Looking ahead, Labanc’s performance in Shanghai could shape his options for the next NHL offseason. A productive KHL run would reinforce his credentials as a creative winger capable of contributing in multiple roles, while continued scoring touch may attract interest from NHL clubs seeking veteran scoring depth.