The New York Rangers are adding to the competition within their roster, signing a player to a professional tryout (PTO) who has a prior connection with head coach Mike Sullivan.
Conor Sheary, a former Stanley Cup champion, spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he tallied an impressive 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points in 59 games. He also appeared in five regular season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning but did not register a point.
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Frangers-sign-conor-sheary-to-professional-tryout-agreementThe 5-foot-8, 182-pound winger has played in 593 NHL games over his career, recording 124 goals and 143 assists for a total of 267 points, averaging 13:56 of ice time per game. His best recent season came in 2021-22 with the Washington Capitals, where he posted 43 points in 37 games. He followed that with 37 points over 82 games the next season. However, his first season with Tampa Bay in 2023-24 saw a dip in production, as he managed only 15 points in 57 games.
Bringing Sheary in on a PTO is an intriguing move given the Rangers’ current depth. Players like Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, Juuso Parssinen, Taylor Raddysh, as well as prospects such as Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann, are already competing for spots. There are also other Hartford standouts eyeing opportunities in camp.
While PTOs are fairly common, Sheary making the final roster could indicate that someone else under contract didn’t meet expectations or that a trade is on the horizon to reduce redundancy. It’s also possible that the team is giving Sullivan a chance to bring in a familiar player who fits his system.
The full strategy remains uncertain, but Sheary’s addition certainly raises questions. One possible scenario is that the Rangers expect to lose Jonny Brodzinski on waivers and see Sheary as a potential replacement. Either way, this move feels like the first step in a larger roster decision still to come.
