The Penguins have signed forward Conor Sheary to a three-year contract worth $9 million, general manager Jim Rutherford announced today. The deal will carry an average annual value of $3 million.
The signing heads off an arbitration hearing set for this coming Friday in Toronto. The club also sidestepped a scheduled hearing with Brian Dumoulin, signing the big defenseman to a six-year pact worth $24.6 million on July 24.
Sheary, 25, enjoyed a breakout season in 2016-17. Skating predominantly on a line with superstar Sidney Crosby and fellow whiz-kid Jake Guentzel, the diminutive winger tallied 23 goals, 30 assists and 53 points in just 61 games. The UMass grad paced the Pens’ forwards with a plus-24—third-best on the team—and ranked third in even-strength points (48), one behind Evgeni Malkin.
In addition, Conor’s points/60-minute mark of 3.27 was third-highest on the Pens (behind Malkin and Crosby) and seventh in the league among skaters who played a minimum of 20 games.
According to CapFriendly.com, the Pens have $3.28 million in cap space still available. Factoring in Derrick Pouliot—currently signed to a one-way contract but listed as a member of the Baby Pens—the amount may be closer to $2 million.
The team is shopping for a third-line center to replace Nick Bonino, who signed with Nashville on July 1. Free-agent Matt Cullen—currently weighing his options—may still be in the picture.
In other recent news, the Pens filled three organizational slots last week. Scott Young, a member of the 1990-91 Stanley Cup champions, succeeded Randy Sexton as director of player development. Jarrod Skalde, a former teammate of assistant GM Bill Guerin, becomes player development coach. Brendan Sullivan (no relation to Mike), is the new goaltending development coach.
Streit Joins the Habs
Defenseman Mark Streit signed a one-year deal with Montreal on July 25. Acquired from Tampa Bay on March 1 for a fourth-round pick in the 2018 Entry Draft, the 39-year-old vet tallied 6 points (1+5) in 19 regular-season games with the locals.
He tallied two assists in three playoff games during the recent Cup run.
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