Conor Sheary is a player with a lengthy history under Mike Sullivan, so it was hardly a surprise when he landed an NHL contract with the New York Rangers after a successful training camp PTO. The two-time Stanley Cup champion arrived on Broadway looking to prove he could still hang in the league, and he delivered a gritty, resilient season that ended with a legitimate offensive flurry.
Expectations
The bar for Sheary was relatively low. He simply needed to be a reliable veteran depth piece the organization could trust. After a disappointing tenure in Tampa Bay that saw him finish the prior year with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, he arrived in training camp with a chip on his shoulder. On a modest one-year deal, he arguably had a greater impact than many initially expected for a bottom-six reclamation project.
Performance
Sheary’s season was a tale of two halves. Part of the struggle was reacclimating to the pace of NHL action, and the other was navigating a frustrating 15-game injury absence (lower body) just as he was starting to find a groove.
However, his return sparked a notable scoring outburst. Sheary managed just one goal and nine points during the first four months of the season. In stark contrast, over his final 23 games, he notched six goals and three assists, increasing his offensive output in a fraction of the time. From an underlying metrics perspective, Sheary was a process win, posting a 50.2 GF%, a 49.49 CF%, and a 51.64 xGF%, per Evolving-Hockey, while averaging 14:06 per game. He was an established pro who played the game the right way, providing the defensive structure Sullivan demands.
Grade: C+
Where do they go from here?
Sheary is set to hit free agency this July, and while he played exceptionally well to end the season, he likely remains a one-and-done Ranger. With the Letter 2.0 retool in full swing, there are numerous youngsters in the system, like Noah Laba, Adam Sýkora, and Jaroslav Chmelař, who offer more long-term upside.
Sheary was a valuable resource for a locker room adjusting to a new coaching staff, and his late-season surge probably earned him another NHL contract elsewhere. However, as the Rangers look to get back into playoff contention, they will likely seek a higher-ceiling upgrade for that bottom-six role.
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