Conor Sheary Bio
Conor Michael Sheary is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on June 8, 1992, in Winchester, Massachusetts, Sheary has built a career on speed, two-way responsibility, and a knack for timely goals. He first rose to prominence as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
Across more than a decade in professional hockey, Sheary has suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, and Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Rangers. Known for skating on scoring lines early in his career and later settling into dependable depth roles, he remains a respected bottom-six presence in the league.
Early Life and Background
Conor Michael Sheary was born on June 8, 1992, in Winchester, Massachusetts, to parents Kevin and Robin Sheary. He grew up in nearby Melrose alongside his two sisters, Caitlin and Courtney. Winchester and Melrose, both in the greater Boston area, sit within a region that has produced generations of hockey talent, giving Sheary early access to rinks and youth programs.
Sheary attended Cushing Academy, a prep school in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, known for developing hockey players. While at Cushing, he met his future wife, Jordan Sullivan, beginning a relationship in 2008 that would carry through college and into his professional career. His time at Cushing helped him earn a path to NCAA Division I hockey.
He later enrolled at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he played for the Minutemen in Hockey East. As a senior, Sheary served as team captain, playing in all 34 games and leading the squad in points with 28 on nine goals and a team-best 19 assists. He finished his collegiate career as the 10th all-time scorer in UMass history with 104 points and became the 12th player in program history to reach 100 career points.
Path to Hockey
Despite his productive college career, Sheary went undrafted by NHL teams. He signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization after his senior season, making his professional debut with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) at the end of the 2013–14 campaign. He posted 11 points in 15 AHL postseason games that spring, opening the door to a NHL contract.
On July 1, 2015, Sheary signed a two-year entry-level deal with Pittsburgh. He spent the early part of the 2015–16 season in the AHL before earning his first NHL recall on December 15, 2015. The opportunity marked the beginning of a swift rise through the Penguins lineup.
Conor Sheary Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Sheary turned professional at the tail end of the 2013–14 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, learning the pro game under the Penguins development system. His combination of speed and competitiveness allowed him to produce offensively in the AHL, where he gained the experience needed for a NHL opportunity.
After spending most of the 2014–15 season in the minors, Sheary signed his entry-level contract in 2015 and continued his development in the AHL. His work there convinced the Penguins coaching staff that he was ready for the NHL level, leading to a midseason call-up that December.
Pittsburgh Penguins Breakthrough (2015–2018)
Sheary made his NHL debut on December 16, 2015, in a 3–0 loss to the Boston Bruins. Two days later, he scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Tuukka Rask of the Bruins and added his first NHL assist in the same game. He quickly earned a regular role alongside Sidney Crosby.
On March 13, 2016, Sheary recorded his first multi-goal game with two tallies against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, beating goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. He later netted his first playoff goal against Lundqvist on April 21, 2016. In the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, Sheary scored the overtime game-winner on June 1, 2016, in a 2–1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, and lifted the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2016, with a 3–1 series-clinching win.
In 2016–17, Sheary spent the entire season on Crosby’s wing, producing 23 goals and 30 assists for 53 points. He notched his first three-point game on January 16, 2017, against the Washington Capitals, scoring the overtime winner in an 8–7 victory. Pittsburgh went on to win the Stanley Cup again, giving Sheary his second championship ring. On July 30, 2017, the Penguins rewarded him with a three-year, $9 million contract.
Buffalo Sabres Era (2018–2020)
On June 27, 2018, the Penguins traded Sheary and Matt Hunwick to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, clearing more than $5 million in salary cap space. In 2018–19, he played a top-nine forward role and recorded 14 goals and 34 points in 78 games, though Buffalo missed the playoffs.
In 2019–20, his final season before free agency, Sheary skated primarily on the third line, registering nine goals and 19 points in 55 games. At the trade deadline, Pittsburgh reacquired him and Evan Rodrigues from the Sabres in exchange for Dominik Kahun on February 24, 2020. He finished the year with 23 points across 63 combined games between Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
Washington Capitals Era (2020–2023)
After going unsigned through the offseason, Sheary joined the Washington Capitals on a one-year, $735,000 contract on December 22, 2020. He settled into a checking-line role in Washington and helped the team remain competitive in the Metropolitan Division. On April 14, 2021, the Capitals signed him to a two-year, $3 million extension, signaling their confidence in his two-way play.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2023–2025)
On July 1, 2023, Sheary signed a three-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the opening of NHL free agency. Early in the 2024–25 season, his role diminished to a depth position, and he was placed on waivers and assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. He produced 61 points across 59 regular-season AHL games.
With limited NHL opportunity in Tampa Bay, Sheary and the Lightning mutually terminated the remaining year of his contract on June 30, 2025, after he cleared unconditional waivers. He then became an unrestricted free agent.
New York Rangers Era (2025–Present)
On July 25, 2025, Sheary signed a professional tryout agreement with the New York Rangers in search of an NHL opportunity. Just over two months later, on October 6, 2025, he converted that tryout into a one-year contract with the club, returning to a top-level NHL roster for the 2025–26 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sheary built his reputation on elite skating speed, quick hands in tight spaces, and reliable defensive responsibility. Early in his career he thrived on Crosby’s wing, where his finishing touch complemented the captain’s playmaking. In later stops with Buffalo, Washington, Tampa Bay, and New York, he transitioned into a trusted bottom-six role, leaning on his penalty kill work, forechecking, and steady two-way game to remain in NHL lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheary’s most defining moment came on June 1, 2016, when he scored the overtime winner in the Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks. He joined the Penguins’ short list of rookies to make a major impact in a championship round and added a second ring the following spring. His first NHL goal, first playoff goal, and overtime winner against the Capitals in 2017 further cemented his reputation for clutch performances.
Conor Sheary Career Wins
Conor Michael Sheary has built a trophy case anchored by two Stanley Cup championships, earned in his first two NHL seasons with Pittsburgh. Beyond those titles, he has consistently delivered regular-season production and timely goals across the Penguins, Sabres, Capitals, Lightning, and Rangers organizations.
NHL Highlights
Sheary’s NHL résumé is highlighted by back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2016, he scored the series-clinching overtime goal against the San Jose Sharks, and in 2017, he posted a 53-point regular season while playing alongside Sidney Crosby before lifting the Cup again. He has also posted double-digit goal totals in multiple seasons, including 14 with Buffalo in 2018–19 and 23 with Pittsburgh in 2016–17.
Other Wins & Performances
At the AHL level, Sheary helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton reach the postseason in 2013–14 and later starred for the Syracuse Crunch, recording 61 points in 59 regular-season games in 2024–25. His college career at UMass-Amherst ended with 104 career points, ranking 10th all time in program history and marking him as the 12th player to reach the 100-point milestone for the Minutemen.
Conor Sheary Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Conor Michael Sheary was raised in a close-knit family by his father, Kevin Sheary, and his mother, Robin Sheary. He grew up in Melrose, Massachusetts, with his two sisters, Caitlin and Courtney. The family’s support played a steady role in his development from youth hockey through the NHL.
Personal Life
Sheary began dating Jordan Sullivan while the two were students at Cushing Academy in 2008. The couple became engaged in March 2016 and were married in August 2018. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in February 2021. Sheary has noted that commentators, fans, and players frequently mispronounce his surname, which is correctly pronounced “SHARE-ee,” not “SHEER-ee.”
2025 Season Performance
Sheary entered 2025 as an unrestricted free agent after his contract was mutually terminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, 2025. Following a productive AHL stint with the Syracuse Crunch in which he posted 61 points in 59 regular-season games, he signed a professional tryout agreement with the New York Rangers on July 25, 2025, in pursuit of an NHL opportunity.
On October 6, 2025, Sheary converted that tryout into a one-year NHL contract with the Rangers, marking his return to the top level for the 2025–26 season. The agreement provides him a clear path back to NHL ice after a year spent primarily in the minors, and gives New York a reliable veteran winger capable of contributing on the penalty kill and in a bottom-six scoring role.
Looking ahead, Sheary will look to cement a regular spot in the Rangers’ forward group while continuing to provide two-way stability. His blend of speed, experience, and championship pedigree positions him as a steady depth option for New York as the 2025–26 season unfolds.
