Sheary's new deal highlights 'whirlwind' career

From the NCAA's Division I ranks to a multi-year deal in the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins newly-signed forward Conor Sheary's path to pro hockey has been far from linear.

The undrafted forward spent four seasons playing with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Minutemen between 2011-14, plying his trade in college rinks in hopes of one day cracking an NHL roster.

Skip forward to today, and the 25-year-old winger finally has what he's always wanted: job stability.

"My career has kind of been a whirlwind," Sheary told Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop. "Just going from three years ago, to think that I'd be signing this contract is something I never would have imagined.

"I was fortunate enough to pick the Penguins as the team I wanted to play for and they were obviously giving me every opportunity to prove myself, so I'm happy with that."

Sheary's new deal comes on the heels of fellow Pens Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz signing their new contracts.

"We're all pretty close friends," Sheary said. "We definitely have congratulated each other. We've said some inside jokes with each other about how much money Schultzy is making or whatever it may be.

"But it's all in good fun and I'm happy for those guys as well."

With two Stanley Cups rings and a 50-plus-point season to his credit, Sheary will now be counted on to contribute to a Penguins club looking to three-peat as champions.

Last season, Sheary scored 23 goals and added 30 assists across 61 regular-season games.

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