The mission remained simple for Conor Sheary. After clawing his way onto the Rangers roster through a professional tryout in training camp, and after spending most of last season with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, he wanted to prove — to himself, to everyone around the league — that he could still contribute, that the version of Sheary from the Penguins teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups early in his career still existed.
But Sheary struggled. Really struggled.
He didn’t tally his first goal until his 27th game. He didn’t score his second until March 10. He was a healthy scratch at times and then missed the final 17 games leading into the Olympic break with a lower-body injury. There were chances for more goals, Sheary admitted, but instead all that emerged were questions.
Head coach Mike Sullivan, who coached Sheary for three-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, stuck by him. Sheary kept a spot in the lineup even as the Rangers auditioned younger pieces.
