Each NHL team’s best contract heading into the 2019-20 season

San Jose Sharks – Kevin Labanc

Contract: $1 million cap hit for one more year

It’s baffling how Kevin Labanc didn’t get more than $1 million a year from the San Jose Sharks. He was one of their best players last season, picking up 56 points. During the postseason, Labanc added nine points in 20 games.

I’m willing to bet nobody on a post-ELC deal will provide better value in terms of dollars per point than him. Labanc has a nice impact on possession as well, even on a team who is built around possession. How a guy who has two straight seasons with at least 40 points only got $1 million is beyond me.

Labanc is the ultimate team player. He took a discount to make sure the Sharks will contend for a Stanley Cup again. Yes, Labanc will probably cash in big time after next season, especially if he continues to improve. But if the Sharks win the Stanley Cup, don’t forget his sacrifice.

Honorable mentions: Timo Meier ($6 million cap hit over the next four years) is going to be a huge steal. If Labanc didn’t sign his comically cheap deal, he’d have been my choice. Getting a forward who can impact the game at five-on-five on offense as much as Meier can for under $7 million is a terrific bargain.