Conor Sheary's preseason performance thus far might push out a longtime Rangers depth piece

It is relatively rare to see a professional tryout work out in favor of the player. Usually, the PTO is a way to bring experienced players in to put pressure on those who are still developing into their own, with the prospect that the veteran could make the final roster before the start of the regular season.

One of those cases might have landed in the New York Rangers lap, and coincidentally, it comes from a player who has been an x-factor every time he played against the Blueshirts. Conor Sheary, who was brought in presumably by longtime Pittsburgh Penguins head coach and now Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, has been excellent in the preseason so far.

Now, there is one player who has been a constant in the Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack lineups over the last couple of years, but has not been able to fully commit to one place. Johnny Brodzinski has consistently demonstrated that he is too good for the AHL level, but does not have enough talent to be a mainstay with the Rangers.

This is where Sheary comes in, and how this could be the one thing that pushes Brodzinski down to Hartford, or to another team. Ultimately, it could work out in the Rangers favor in the end.

Sheary can be a special player for Rangers

After some successful years in Pittsburgh with Sullivan, Sheary joined the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and Tampa Bay Lightning. In each and every instance, he has been a literal Rangers killer, as he has scored nine goals in 33 games. That number is a three-way tie between Philadelphia and Boston.

Now, as a potential part of the Rangers bottom-six, Sheary could do a lot of good for this team. He showed that he still has some pep in his step with a nice breakaway goal in the 5-3 preseason victory over New Jersey. Additionally, he has something that is sorely lacking on this team, which is Stanley Cup-winning experience, which he gained in Pittsburgh.

Final straw for Brodzinski?

Under Sullivan, Sheary can thrive a lot more than Brodzinski can. This might be the last chance for the 32-year-old, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season. Last season saw some career-highs for him, as he scored 12 goals and added seven assists for a career-high in points at 19.

That is not terrible for a fourth-line player, but Sheary has proven to double that point production with only a little bit more of average ice-time. Maybe the veteran player needs a fresh start elsewhere and lands on a one-way deal with another franchise. With the Rangers, it might be time for Sheary to get the nod over Brodzinski.