Carolina Hurricanes Add Veteran Forward Kevin Labanc to Training Camp Roster on PTO

The Carolina Hurricanes have bolstered their training camp roster for the 2025-26 NHL season by signing veteran forward Kevin Labanc to a professional tryout (PTO). Labanc, 29, brings nearly a decade of NHL experience and a versatile offensive game, providing the Hurricanes with depth and competition at forward.

This move reflects Carolina’s strategy to combine veteran experience with their young core as they prepare for another playoff push.

Carolina Hurricanes bring in experienced forward Kevin Labanc on PTO ahead of 2025-26 NHL season

The Hurricanes’ addition of Kevin Labanc to the training camp roster offers both experience and flexibility. Labanc has played 512 NHL regular-season games across nine seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets, tallying 84 goals and 153 assists for 237 points. He also brings playoff experience, having scored 14 points in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games, making him a potential contributor in high-pressure situations.Labanc’s best season came in 2018-19 with the Sharks, when he posted career highs in goals (17), assists (39), and points (56). Despite a quieter 2024-25 campaign with Columbus, where he recorded 12 points in 34 games, his prior consistency and versatility make him an attractive candidate for Carolina’s camp competition.

Kevin Labanc’s professional hockey career and development highlights

A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Labanc was drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by San Jose.

He spent three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Barrie Colts, where he scored 269 points (81 goals, 188 assists) in 198 games, and added 39 points in 35 playoff games. He has also appeared in 21 AHL games, recording 23 points.For the Hurricanes, Labanc joins a team that finished second in the Metropolitan Division in 2024-25, with a 47-30-5 record and 99 points. Carolina reached the Eastern Conference Final, defeating the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals before falling to the Florida Panthers.

The team’s leading contributors included Sebastian Aho (74 points) and Seth Jarvis (67 points), setting a competitive environment for camp players like Labanc.This PTO signing gives Labanc the chance to showcase his skills and compete for a roster spot, while the Hurricanes add depth and veteran presence ahead of the new NHL season.Kevin Labanc’s addition to the Carolina Hurricanes training camp roster on a professional tryout highlights the team’s strategy of mixing youth with experienced players. With his NHL and playoff background, Labanc could provide valuable depth, while competing for a spot on a team eager to build on last season’s playoff success. His performance in camp will likely determine if he becomes a key contributor in 2025-26.Also Read: Pittsburgh Penguins’ aging core faces uncertainty ahead of 2025-26 NHL season and potential rebuild