New Jersey Devils sign Kevin Labanc, Andy Welinski to PTOs

The New Jersey Devils have invited a couple of defensemen to training camp. On Monday, general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the team has signed Kevin Labanc and Andy Welinski to professional tryout agreements.

This will be a significant change for Labanc, who has spent his entire professional career with the San Jose Sharks organization. The native of Staten Island, New York, was taken by San Jose in the sixth round, 171st overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft. He made his debut during the 2016-17 season and was a consistent figure on the team’s blueline.

His true coming-out party was during the 2018-19 season, when he scored 17 goals and 56 points, both career highs. Labanc was crucial in helping San Jose reach the Western Conference Final, which is still the franchise’s latest playoff appearance.

However, Labanc had injury trouble that led to a shortened 2021-22 season and he only appeared in 46 games this past season for a Sharks team that finished dead last in the NHL. In 478 NHL games, the 28-year-old has scored 82 goals and 143 assists for 225 points. He has also registered 14 points in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Labanc’s last deal with the Sharks was a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.725 million.

Welinksi is searching for his first NHL contract in two seasons. The Duluth, Minnesota native signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers in July 2022 and was later traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in February 2023.

Welinski signed a PTO with the St. Louis Blues last fall but didn’t make the cut. He signed a PTO with the Iowa Wild, the American Hockey League of the Minnesota Wild, but was released in March. He joined the Charlotte Checkers for the last month of the season. In 35 games, the 31-year-old scored three goals and 10 points.

It has been a while since the former Minnesota-Duluth product played in the NHL. Welinksi was originally taken by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2011 draft. He spent most of the time in the minors but played with the Ducks in spurts across the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

In 46 NHL appearances, Welinski scored a goal and five assists, playing in three playoff games with the Ducks in 2018. In 319 AHL games, he has notched 42 goals and 110 assists, including 21 points in 52 Calder Cup Playoff games.