Sheary will draw back into the Lightning lineup on Tuesday after a hand injury forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Canadiens. Sheary is expected to rotate in on the third line with Alex Barre-Boulet as the Lightning are rolling with unconventional lineup on Tuesday, consisting of five defensemen and 13 forwards.
Sheary has missed the Oilers previous 17 games due to an upper body injury but was activated off the Injured Reserve Thursday and will draw back into the lineup for Tampa Bay in Edmonton. The 31-year-old had struggled offensively prior to his injury with a goal, two assists, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 13 games played.
Sheary has not played since November 7th but is targeting a December 9th return when the team heads out for a road trip through Western Canada. In 13 games this season, Sheary has three points (1G / 2A), playing up and down the lineup, predominantly alongside Luke Glendening and Michael Eyssimont on the fourth line.
Sheary played only one shift on Tuesday, 35 seconds, before exiting the game with an upper-body injury and subsequently being placed on the injured reserve. In 13 games with the Lightning this season, Sheary had three points (1G / 2A) and 14 shots on goal. Waltteri Merela, who has already played 10 games with Tampa Bay this season, was recalled from Syracuse (AHL).
Sheary logged just 35 seconds of ice-time on Tuesday before suffering the injury. The 31-year-old has one goal and two assists to his name through his first 12 games of the season. Look for Austin Watson to take Sheary's place in the Lightning lineup if he's unavailable for Thursday's game against Chicago.
Sheary had 15 goals, 22 assists, 154 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 82 games with Washington in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year deal worth $6.0 million ($2.0M AAV) with Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season with his fourth different team, having scooped 252 points (120G/132A) through 531 career games played.
Sheary was away from the team for the birth of his second but has returned to Washington and is expected to rejoin the lineup Wednesday as they take on Anaheim. The 30-year-old has 12 goals, 18 assists, 119 SOG, and 20 PIMs through 62 games this season.
Sheary missed Friday's practice and will not play Saturday afternoon vs. the Penguins. Sheary is expected to be replaced by Garnet Hathaway on the top line.
The Capitals have a bit of a bug going around right now and Sheary is the latest player to deal with it. He was not on the ice for Friday's practice and is questionable to play Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh. Garnet Hathaway returned from an illness on Friday to skate in Sheary's spot on the top line.
After a couple of disappointing seasons in Buffalo, Sheary has been solid for the Capitals in 2020, scoring 11 goals with eight assists (19 points) in 40 games. He earns a raise of $765K per season.
Sheary returns to Pittsburgh after a two-year stint in Buffalo. Sheary has failed to replicate his production from his 52-point breakout campaign in 2017, averaging just 32 points over the last two seasons. He is set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1st.
