COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pete DeBoer asked Kevin Labanc to ‘prove a point.’ Right now, he’s putting together a case that even his lawyer coach can’t easily dismiss.
After the all-star break, DeBoer challenged Labanc to prove that he’s trustworthy enough to warrant a spot in the Sharks lineup down the stretch and into the playoffs. The Sharks coach wants a third line that can create mismatches in the depth of the lineup and Labanc’s penchant for defensive lapses, taking penalties and poor puck-management decisions is a potential threat to that vision.
But with Monday’s trade deadline looming, Labanc is starting to convince his coach that the team doesn’t need to shop for an upgrade at his position to find that third line edge.