- Editor's note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California's Sharks coverage for the 2021-22 season. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
Kevin Labanc had hoped to hit the ice tonight against the Dallas Stars.
But instead, the San Jose Sharks winger, out since mid-December after shoulder surgery, might be put on ice for the rest of the season.
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Labanc saw a shoulder specialist in Los Angeles on Thursday, hoping that would be the final step to getting back into the game.
“Everything looks great. They’re happy with his progress, the rehab and the healing going on,” San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said after morning skate.
Great, except Labanc was conspicuously absent from the ice this morning after being cleared for contact earlier this week.
“But I think abundance of caution, there’s a chance that they want to look at the risk-reward, see how many games are left in the season and is it worth it or not,” the coach added. “The more time he has, obviously the better the rehab process is going to be. It might come to a point in time where we might shut him down for the season.”
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