Penguins winger Conor Sheary is out week-to-week with a lower body injury, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice.
The injury is not considered long-term and the Penguins’ “week-to-week” timetable’s are normally around a 2-3 week timetable.
Sheary has 12 goals and 19 points in 52 games this season, a significant drop-off in production from last season where he produced a 23 goal – 53 point season, averaging 0.87 points per game.
If anything, Sheary has been consistent with a 6 point October, 5 point November, 4 point December and a 4 point January.
In the first year of a 3 year, $9 million contract, Sheary has been dangled in trade talks over the last little while To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
League sources say Sheary was offered [hide] to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal for Evander Kane and were turned down.
Sheary has recently returned to a top-line role and his absence had Bryan Rust moved up to right wing with Sidney Crosby and Dominik Simon today on the top line.
“Conor is a really good player,” Sullivan said today. “He’s not an easy guy to replace and He brings a certain dimension to our team that helps us win games….But certainly we have capable people [to replace him].”
The rest of the lines were:
Hagelin – Malkin – Hornqvist
Guentzel – Sheary – Kessel
Kuhnhackl – Dea – Reaves
Reaves is expected to get back in the lineup tomorrow night vs Washington. [/hide]