Training Camp Day 3: Labanc and Peterson

Kevin Labanc hasn't lived up to his contract extension for the San Jose Sharks.

Jacob Peterson wants to show the staff that his hot streak at the end of last season wasn't a fluke.

Labanc used his summer to reset. He had his first child and was able to get some time away from Hockey.

Labanc is entering the final year of a four-year deal and has been the topic of trade rumors for quite some time.

Labanc told THN that there haven't been any discussions on a possible contract extension.

"I think each season, you learn something different. I think that last season, we didn't have a great start," Labanc said. "You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot. So I think all the practices, all the heavy lifting that we've been doing, it's all to get us ready for the first game in October."

Labanc was skating with Ryan Carpenter and Danil Gushchin during today's scrimmage.

"[Labanc] is off to a good start. He and I had a great conversation before camp, and he understands what we're looking for," Sharks head coach David Quinn said. "Now he's got to apply it in games. That's the bottom line. He's going to have every opportunity."

Labanc repeatedly talked about what Quinn wants not only out of him but the entire team. He also spoke about how he interacts with many of the young players on the roster.

"Just having conversations and teaching them what it's like to play in San Jose and what it's like to play Sharks hockey," Labanc said. "Hard, fast, heavy, all those attributes."

The San Jose Sharks will have a decision to make on whether or not Labanc's career will continue in teal.

Jacob Peterson will look to make his mark on Team Teal this season. During the scrimmage, the forward was playing with Thomas Bordeleau.

"I'm just trying to play my game, trying to help the team out there," Peterson said about what he can bring. "Just trying to help the team offensively but also defensively, so just trying to do those things, and then the other stuff will come."

Coach Quinn spoke highly of Peterson during last season's exit interviews and continued during training camp.

"He's sneaky good. He's got a real good hockey sense," Quinn said. "He can make a play. There is a lot to like about him as a player. We've got a lot of competition for our forward positions. He's certainly a guy that I would feel very comfortable with being on this team."

Peterson had points in eight of 11 NHL games with San Jose last season. His offensive success surprised many after he was acquired from the Dallas Stars organization.

"It's a good competition out there. The team brought in new players," Peterson said. "I think that brings up the whole team. I think that's really good."

Peterson has always had a career where he quietly goes about his business but is an effective hockey player. Peterson talked about how he can finally settle in now that he is with the San Jose Sharks.

"Getting into it more and more every day," Peterson said. "Outside [of hockey], too. I've been here for a while and know how it works. I know the rinks and stuff like that. So I think that helps and then just trying to improve every day in practice." 

He is right on the border of making the NHL, but with a strong finish last season, he might have the upper hand on some other players vying for the same spot.