The New Jersey Devils announced they have signed forward Kevin Labanc and defenseman Andy Welinski to Professional Tryout contracts.
Labanc has spent his entire NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, in an injured plagued campaign last season he had nine points in 46 games. He has 225 points in 478 career NHL games. In two brief AHL stints Labanc registered 23 points in 21 games with the San Jose Barracuda.
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Welinski was selected in the third round of the 2011 draft by the Anaheim Ducks, he split time between the Iowa Wild and Charlotte Checkers last season, notching 10 points in 35 games.
The 31-year-old played 46 career NHL games with the Ducks and scored six points. He has been a consistent, minute-munching defenseman in the AHL with seven different franchises. He has 152 points in 319 career games and was an AHL All-Star in 2018 with the San Diego Gulls.
The 28-year-old Labanc has not been able to recapture the offensive form he had earlier in career, which peaked with 56 points in 82 games in 2018-19.
A native of Staten Island, New York, Labanc’s playmaking ability would be a good fit with New Jersey’s skilled core and would offer him the chance to play in the city he played youth hockey.
Welinski is a right-handed shot with good size, he would make a good depth defender for the Devils and could serve in a leadership role with AHL Utica if the organization can keep him around.
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