- Editor's note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California's Sharks coverage for the 2021-22 season. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at Sheng_Peng.
Does Bob Boughner expect Kevin Labanc to score 20 goals from the fourth line?
Of course not.
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This was Boughner’s message to Labanc after scratching him on Tuesday night: “No matter what line he’s playing on, we have to work as hard away from the puck as we work with the puck.”
That, Labanc should be able to do whether he plays with Timo Meier or Oscar Meyer. Labanc is going to get a chance to show Boughner that’s he learned his lesson tonight — he’s back in, flanked by Jonah Gadjovich and centered by Jasper Weatherby.
"You create offense by just being a dog on the bone. Puck retrievals, I think the more you retrieve pucks, the more offensive chances you’re gonna get,” Labanc said specifically about what he’s looking to improve. “On the defensive side of things, make sure you’re not giving anything up. Try and create a little bit of puck possession in the defensive zone. So once you get into the neutral zone, you got a little bit of control and possession. And then maybe you can break into the offensive zone with entry and possession.”