Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Carolina Hurricanes have added forward Kevin Labanc on a PTO agreement as the Maple Leafs lose out on another potential piece.
The NHL season is quickly approaching and teams are figuring out their last minute additions, subtractions, and everything in between as they all strive towards one goal: Winning a Stanley Cup.
Most of the big signings and deals have been done, although there are a few stragglers still on the market like Jack Roslovic, however we can now scratch one more off the list.
The PTO Market Around the NHL Is Quickly Taking Shape
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Carolina Hurricanes are bringing in forward Kevin Labanc on a PTO as a way to see if he can help out their team in the ever dangerous Metropolitan Division.
Labanc, 28, had 12 points in 34 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.We’ve seen a few more PTO’s over the last few weeks with the likes of Brett Leason and Jack Johnson, meanwhile there are talks of the Maple Leafs bringing in someone like Andreas Athanasiou on an agreement hoping he can make an offensive splash on the cheap.
What the Maple Leafs’ Silence Could Mean for Their Camp Plans
But it’s the fact that Toronto has seemingly done nothing to even approach a player for a PTO that starts to get worrisome. We know they are talking about potentially bringing in Matt Grzelcyk on the back end, but they still need some more help up front.
Jack Roslovic was heavily linked to the team (and we’ve heard nothing from his camp in weeks) and if anything he might be the last one on the market who could actually help the Leafs.
Perhaps the silence is a good thing, as it shows that Toronto is happy with what they have and are willing to seek internal help to fill any holes or to bring any competition during the preseason, but Treliving is known for making moves and just…hasn’t.
Looking at who is still available, it’s slim pickings. Besides Roslovic there’s really only Evgeny Kuznetsov, Robby Fabbri or Jakub Vrana who can help up front, meanwhile it’s really only Jon Merrill who they can add on the back end who could help.
Of anyone on that list, Kuznetsov makes sense given his credentials but he’s also 35 and a year removed from playing in the NHL. Fabbri and Vrana are solid role players but might not warrant a commitment, and Merrill could be seen as an improvement over Simon Benoit at times.
So it might just be part of the plan that Toronto is remaining silent when it comes to a final signing, because they may already have their roster in mind; it’s just a matter of getting it on the ice.
Previously on HockeyPatrol
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Another Team Signs PTO as Maple Leafs’ Silence Raises Questions
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