Kevin Labanc Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Kevin Labanc has been a beast despite logging under 15 minutes of ice time per game. After the All-Star break, Labanc has recorded 21 points (9G, 12A) in 24 games including six points with the man-advantage. As a fixture on the Sharks' top power play unit, Labanc always seems to be involved when the Sharks are on the power play. Labanc's price across the industry makes him a worthwhile one off or one-two punch with Brent Burns, the top option on tonight's slate.

Since January 1st, the San Jose Sharks have a 62.81 CF/60 (5th) and a 54.86 CF% (4th) which are both elite. The Sharks are playing amazing right now and as they head to Florida tonight, they are in a great spot. Roberto Luongo has struggled immensely this season with a 3.23 goals against average and a .894 save percentage, and it's not like James Reimer has been much better if he starts. Logan Couture is centering Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier on the second line, and with Labanc and Couture playing on the same power play unit they make for an interesting mini-stack if you don't want to go all-in on this full-line stack.

If the Calgary Flames treat the line of Evander Kane, Tomas Hertl and Kevin Labanc as the third line (even the second line) they could be in for a big game against the Flames lower-end players. Kane leads the team in shots despite being tied for 7th on the team in points. He is struggling to convert on his scoring opportunities even though his shooting percentage is only down a bit from his career numbers. The three are all jumbled up between the power play units, which is problematic, but utilizing the trio as a strong, low-owned even strength stack is still a great as the San Jose Sharks lead the NHL with a 60.00 CF% at 5-on-5 over the last three weeks.

Kevin Labanc may skate on the third line, but he is also seeing consistent power play time on the team's top power play unit. Labanc has a respectable 13 points (3G, 10A) in 22 games played this season, and with veteran playmaker Joe Thornton centering him recently, Labanc is an interesting target in tournaments, even as a one off play given his role on the power play. Last season Labanc (DraftKings - $4,200 & FanDuel - $4,400) clobbered the Canucks for two goals and four assists in four games. The Canucks are skidding and Labanc is sure to be overlooked as most gravitate toward San Jose's top six and defensemen.

The second line for the San Jose Sharks has some dominant possession players. Kevin Labanc has an elite 80.29 CF/60, Tomas Hertl brings an impressive 76.56 CF/60 to the table and even though he's worst on the line, Logan Couture still has an impressive 70.45 CF/60. These skaters are part of the reason why the Sharks are third in the NHL with a 57.83 CF% and one of the most dominant possession teams in the league. San Jose is hosting Columbus and they'll likely be taking on Sergei Bobrovsky — a matchup one would normally look to avoid but Bobrovsky has struggled this season with an abysmal 3.58 GAA and .882 SV%.

We have a matchup between one of the best possession teams and one of the worst possession teams in the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers respectively. The Sharks are 3rd in the NHL with a 58.56 CF% and the Rangers are 27th with a 46.49 CF%. The top line for the Sharks has been great and Evander Kane has been great for them since he was acquired at the Trade Deadline last season. He's playing with Joe Pavelski and Kevin Lebanc. Additionally, he's on the top power play unit with Pavelski, Logan Couture, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. There is so much offensive talent on this power play unit that it gives Kane another boost.

We talked about the Hurricanes already, not it's time to focus on the other side of the game. The San Jose Sharks are the best possession team in the NHL and their top line of Evander Kane, Joe Pavelski and Kevin Labanc are the third-best possession line in the NHL (after two Carolina lines) at even strength with a 65.57 CF%. Kane has four goals and an incredible 38 shots in just nine games so even if he doesn't get on the scoresheet offensively he has the shot volume to really raise his floor. Though on games he does get some points, the shot volume gives him an elite ceiling as well. Kane and Pavelski play on the top power play unit together which is great for their correlation and while Labanc is on the other unit, they are so good at even strength that there is no reason to leave him off your line stack.

The San Jose Sharks play host to the New York Islanders tonight. The Sharks currently have the highest implied goal total set at 3.71. Joe Pavelski and Evander Kane were reunited on the top line last game, along with Kevin Labanc. They looked great together last game posting a combined one goal, three assists, and nine shots on goal. However, they were over shadowed by Logan Couture’s hat trick. While both Shark’s top lines are definitely in play, I expect the first line to go slightly lowed owned given the second line’s recent performance. With Kane and Pavelski, you also get two-thirds of the team’s top power play unit. Pairing them up with Erik Karlsson or Brent Burns, gives you elite upside in this matchup.

Although they are technically looked at as the second line in San Jose, Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture and Kevin Labanc have a ton of upside. Hertl and Couture are playing on the top power play unit with the likes of Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. Kevin Labanc is away from his even strength linemates as he sets up shop on the Sharks second power play unit. Because of the power play correlation, Couture and Hertl make for a great two-man mini-stack paired with one of the stud defence. On the road against the Los Angeles Kings and Jonathan Quick is ideal, but we can hope that this line avoids Anze Kopitar which will give them some room to produce offensively.

Kevin Labanc has put together a nice season, especially on home ice where the winger has 17 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 22 games while averaging 14:32 of ice time. Most of this came with a subdued role, but Labanc has climbed the depth chart and is now part of the Sharks' top line with Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. Not only this, but Labanc is operating as the right winger on the team's top power play unit. Back in December, Labanc lit up the Oilers in Edmonton, posting two assists with three shots on goal. Now, on home ice, with the Oilers playing on consecutive nights, Labanc figures to be involved again. Grabbing Couture costs a little too much tonight in cash games, but Labanc (FanDuel - $4,200, DraftKings - $4,800) is a great avenue to gain exposure to a San Jose team that should find success against an Edmonton penalty kill that is by far the worst in the National Hockey League.