Conor Sheary
This one is really interesting. Conor Sheary is currently playing on the top line for the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby. The Penguins have always put interesting players on that line because Crosby is so good he can elevate anyone. Why would the Penguins put their best wingers with their best center when that center can make lesser wingers great?
Anyway, Sheary had a really good start to his career with the Penguins, scoring 58 points in his first full season. He was traded in the 2018 offseason because the Penguins needed salary cap relief and felt like they couldn’t afford to keep Sheary. He went to the Buffalo Sabres and he just wasn’t very good there. The Penguins traded back for him this season near the NHL Trade Deadline, and he looked a lot better.
After taking a few games to get back into the groove of things, he was really good in March. He had four points in five games. Sheary was learning how to take advantage of the space Crosby gives a line. He was open a lot more. His linemates were open a lot more. Then, Crosby himself would get open despite the plan being completely about stopping him. So basically, one or two players would get lost in Crosby, and he would lose them making them useless. It’s great for the Pens.
So, why should the Devils go after a player who only excelled with one of the best players on the planet? Again, expectations. If you bring in Sheary on a decent deal to play a middle-six role, then he can absolutely give the Devils a certain value on that contract. He proved he can finish with the right facilitator at center. Jack Hughes has already been a great facilitator who just needs a player who can be in the right place at the right time and make the right shot. Sheary can be that player.