Labanc signs fouryear, $ 18.9 million deal to stay in S. J.

“The best way to handle pressure is by attacking it, and that’s what I plan on doing this season.”

Labanc’s production went down to 33 points this past season ( in 12 fewer games) as he struggled along with the rest of the Sharks, who finished thirdworst in the NHL. He was a playoff hero and had nine points in San Jose’s 2019 run to the Western Conference finals, which is why his lowmoney contract that summer raised eyebrows.

Getting almost $ 5 million a year for the next four seasons makes more sense. The Sharks have more financial flexibility now after a down year and didn’t forget what Labanc and his camp did to try to keep them cap compliant last season.

“Do you remember it? Yes, of course you do,” general manager Doug Wilson said. “But it’s extremely rare in this league to have a 23yearold kid score 56 points like he did, so we know the skill sets that he has. We all got to see his playoff performance and what we all witnessed.”

Kevin Labanc Labanc had a hand in all four goals of the Sharks’ memorable thirdperiod comeback in Game 7 against Vegas in the first round in 2019.

But Wilson insists this contract is more about what Labanc could do through 2024 than what he did then.

“It’s about where you’re going,” Wilson said. “This is forecasting Kevin Labanc to be a 60point scorer for the next four years.”

That’s a high expectation for the 2014 sixthround draft pick. But coach Bob Boughner likes Labanc’s creativity at 5on5 and on the power play, and this contract is another incentive for a player who embraces pressure.

“I look at pressure as a privilege,” Labanc said. “You work your whole life to get to this point in your career and the best way to handle pressure is by attacking it, and that’s what I plan on doing this season.”

Labanc has 149 points on 50 goals and 99 assists in 284 career regularseason NHL games. The Sharks aren’t worried about how his numbers fell this past season and think it could actually help in the next few years.

“He’s a kid that responds when he falls and skins his knees a little bit, and this deal is about going forward,” Wilson said. “We’ve seen what he can do. This deal is about the ingredients he has moving forward, and we’re excited for him.”

Stephen Whyno is an Associated Press writer.

Isaac Brekken / Associated Press 2019 Kevin Labanc ( left, shooting under Vegas’ Brayden McNabb in October) had a careerhigh 56 points two seasons ago.