Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Conor Sheary Placed On Waivers In Shocking Move

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Chris Gerics
October 23, 2024 (2:44 PM)

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In a surprising roster move, the Tampa Bay Lightning have placed two-time Stanley Cup Champion Conor Sheary on waivers Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are having a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde season early into 2024-2025, holding a 4-2-0 record after jumping out to a hot 3-0-0 start. After losing back-to-back games against the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa rebounded back with a statement 8-5 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

So with them riding some momentum, they've decided to make a big roster change, placing two-time Stanley Cup Champion forward Conor Sheary on waivers in a very surprising turn of events for the 32-year-old:

Sheary was pegged to have a solid bottom-line role for the Lightning this season but never really did anything of note, averaging just 11 minutes of ice time with no points, a -2 rating, and zero shots on goal. He's struggled in Tampa and is a far cry from when he played in Pittsburgh where he had 97 points in 192 games including a 23-goal outburst in 2015-2016. Sheary won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2017 and 2018 while contributing 17 points in the playoffs over that span.

Traded to Buffalo along with Matt Hunwick, Sheary had a bit of a decline with the Sabres before heading back to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. After heading to Washington in free agency in December 2020, and signing an extension a few months later. Looking like the Sheary of old, he scored 102 points for the Capitals in 206 games before signing with Tampa as a free agent last season.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Sheary, but there's no doubt the 32-year-old can still contribute to a team's bottom half and bring veteran leadership and knowledge, not to mention a winning pedigree to a team hungry to find success.