Former Penguins Forward Having Contract Terminated

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Sheary has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning to terminate his contract. 

Sheary was entering the final season of his contract with the Lightning in 2025-26, but with this news, the former Penguins winger's time with the Bolts is coming to an end.

Friedman reported that Sheary requested to have his contract terminated by the Lightning so he could have a better chance to play at the NHL level again. Sheary played in just five games this season with Tampa Bay and spent the rest of the season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch.

Sheary played in 192 games with the Penguins over two stints and four seasons, where he had recorded 49 goals, 97 points, and a plus-24 rating. He also won two Stanley Cups while with the Penguins. 

With the Penguins retooling their roster and Sheary being 33 years old, it does not seem too likely that they will look to reunite with the 5-foot-9 forward this summer. However, he could be a nice pickup for a team looking for more forward depth.