Why Conor Sheary might be more important to the Rangers than fans think

The New York Rangers are set to have their first season under a head coach they've been pursuing for quite some time in Mike Sullivan. The hope is that he can build the team into Stanley Cup champions, something the Rangers haven't called themselves in the past 30 years.

First things first, Sullivan is trying to build the roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and he is doing so in training camp and in the preseason. The big names are obviously staying, but there are some players who could land a Rangers' bottom six forwards role.

One player who seems to be in good standing is Conor Sheary, an NHL veteran who has familiarity of Sullivan's coaching style and scheme.

Conor Sheary seems like a lock to make Rangers' 2025-26 roster

When a new head coach arrives to his new team, it's basically a given that they will bring in some of their former players. It helps them have someone who is familiar with the playbook so they can spread the knowledge to other players on the roster.

For Sheary, he was taking a chance with the Rangers. He spent last year in the AHL as part of the Tampa Bay Lightning. But he walked away from his contract, and signed a professional tryout deal with the Rangers, in hopes of landing on the NHL roster. He's made a good first impression so far.

Sheary played a pivotal role in Sullivan's success in Pittsburgh, especially when they won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017. In those two runs, Sheary tallied 17 points and 10 goals. In three regular seasons, Sheary recorded 48 goals and 45 assists (93 points). Sheary did have a second stint with the Penguins after being traded by the Buffalo Sabres, where he scored one goal and dished out three assists in eight games.

In the team's preseason opener against the New Jersey Devils, Sheary donned an "A" on his jersey, signifying that he was an alternate captain for the game. Sheary scored a goal in the Rangers' 5-2 win. It wasn't just any goal, it was on a breakaway.

Sheary isn't a flashy add, but he provides veteran experience the Rangers need on one of their final two forward lines. That's what Sheary will be for the Rangers, so fans can't necessarily think he'll jump into the top six. He'd be a depth player, which is what they need, especially with their roster purge the past couple of seasons. Plus, he has a playoff pedigree that could pay off if the Rangers do make it into the postseason.

Having a player like Sheary who knows Sullivan as a head coach will pay off. Luckily for Rangers fans, he is contributing quickly in preseason games. So, he's making it a bit easier to make the team.