After nine years playing the NHL, American winger Kevin Labanc is heading overseas to play with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL.
The Shanghai Dragons have announced the signing of forward Kevin Labanc to a contract through the remainder of the season, adding experience, creativity, and scoring ability to their lineup.
— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) October 8, 2025
Details: https://t.co/26uYwBInkE pic.twitter.com/PYRkxuw6VM
The contract is for the remainder of the 2025-26 season which runs until late March.
Labanc, 29, joined the Carolina Hurricanes on a professional tryout this preseason, but was released by the organization on Sept. 30.
The native of Brooklyn, New York scored two goals and 10 assists over 34 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25, his first and only season with the team.
Labanc spent the first eight years of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks after they selected him in the sixth-round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Over 512 career games with the Sharks and Blue Jackets, Labanc has tallied 83 goals and 153 assists, adding five goals and nine assists across 30 playoff games.
Labanc‘s best NHL season came in 2018-19 when he scored 17 goals and 39 assists over 82 games with the Sharks.
