- 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 knows.
Three goals and three assists in 21 games is not good enough. Three straight seasons out of the playoffs is not good enough. All this, at $4.725 million dollars AAV until 2024 is not good enough.
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Labanc hopes that starting this weekend, he can be a big part of a San Jose Sharks’ renaissance.
Labanc has been out for the last three months with a dislocated shoulder, suffered against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 11. He’s been skating for a while, but after surgery, was finally cleared for contact earlier this week. He’s seeing a specialist in Los Angeles on Thursday and is expected to get the all-clear for a possible return to action this Saturday versus the Stars.
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That will give Labanc 15 games to prove to himself, the San Jose Sharks, and the NHL that he shouldn’t be judged solely on his slow start this season.
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