Rangers reportedly bringing in former Penguins forward Conor Sheary on PTO
Conor Sheary may get another chance to play for coach Mike Sullivan after the 33-year-old reportedly signed a professional tryout contract with the New York Rangers.
The New York Post reported the signing on Friday.
Sheary became a free agent on July 1 after the Tampa Bay Lightning had put him on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, which had one season remaining. The Bolts had signed Sheary to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2 million average annual value) on July 1, 2023.
However, after he had just 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 57 games for Tampa Bay in 2023-24, Sheary played just five games for the Lightning last season (only one after the end of November) without scoring a point. He spent most of the season in the American Hockey League, playing 59 games for Syracuse and finishing with 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists).
Sheary reportedly had asked the Lightning to terminate his contract to get a chance to return to the NHL.
The 5-foot-8 native of Winchester, Massachusetts, has played 593 regular-season games during 10 NHL seasons, scoring 124 goals and 267 points while averaging 13:56 of ice time. He also has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 72 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Four of those playoff goals and 10 of the points came in 2016, when he helped the Penguins win the first of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with Sullivan as coach. The undrafted free agent forward had been called up by the Penguins from Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the AHL on Dec. 15, 2015 – three days after Sullivan replaced Mike Johnson as coach – and became a useful middle-six forward for the Pens.
His best season came in 2016-17, when he scored 23 goals, finished with 53 points and was plus-24 – the only time in his career he’s hit the 20-goal and 50-point marks – to help the Penguins repeat as champions.
The Penguins traded Sheary to the Buffalo Sabres in June 2018, then reacquired him on Feb. 24, 2020. In all, Sheary played 192 games with the Penguins over two stints and four seasons — all under Sullivan – putting up 49 goals, 97 points and a plus-24 rating.
Rangers reportedly bringing in Conor Sheary on PTO
He signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals in December 2020 and played three seasons with them before signing with Tampa Bay.
The Rangers, who signed Sullivan to a five-year contract on May 2, four days after he parted ways with the Penguins following a third-straight non-playoff season, obviously are taking a flyer on Sheary with the hope that reuniting with his old coach will help him find his game. It’s a low-risk move for the Blueshirts, who are still looking for answers on their third and fourth lines, but the onus is on him to prove that he still has something left and can contribute on an NHL roster, even in a lower-level role.
With less than $800,000 of salary-cap space remaining, according to PuckPedia, taking a free look at Sheary in training camp is good insurance in case youngsters like 20-year-old Gabe Perreault aren’t ready for the NHL. His ceiling is probably as a third-line forward.
However, the Rangers also have a number of young forwards, including Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, Juuso Parssinen, Taylor Raddysh, Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann and Perreault who’ve played in the NHL and AHL, are already under contract and will be battling for jobs at training camp.
It’s hard to imagine Sullivan didn’t have some input on a move involving a player who played on his two Cup-winning teams, especially when the Rangers are basically getting a free look to see if Sheary can still play at the NHL level. It’s also not impossible that general manager Chris Drury has another move or two up his sleeve before camp opens in September.
More About:New York Rangers News