Labanc always had talent, just lacked consistent effort game to game. Feel he was checked out his last couple years here, glad he is off to a good start tho
I hope going unsigned through the UFA frenzy, the entire offseason, having to sign a PTO, getting dropped, and then a 1 year vet minimum deal on opening night motivates Labanc to make some adjustments to his game.
If he could consistently bring the intensity and consistently needed to just be a mid-tier bottom six guy defensively, he has the offensive chops to carve out some good years as a bottom six scorer. Guys with that profile, like a Lee Stempniak, stick around in the NHL.
Buttery soft bottom six scorers who are a complete liability in their own end and the coach’s automatic pick to serve team infractions don’t stick around too long.