Pittsburgh Penguins, Conor Sheary agree to three-year contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to terms with forward Conor Sheary on a three-year, $9 million contract, the team announced Sunday.

The deal begins with the 2017-18 season and runs through the 2019-20 campaign as the two sides avoided an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.

"It was difficult in the sense it took time to (finalize the deal), but it was all worth it," Sheary told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by phone Sunday. "I am excited and happy to get it done. Hopefully, it won't be my last."

Sheary, 25, took part in 45 playoff games in the last two seasons, recording 17 points (six goals, 11 assists), while helping the Penguins capture back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Sheary, playing in all six 2017 Stanley Cup Final games against the Nashville Predators, scored goals in Games 1 and 5, and tacked on an assist in the Penguins' Game 2 win.

As a rookie forward in the 2016 playoffs, Sheary played in 23 games, recording four goals and six assists. He scored two goals in the Stanley Cup Final as the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks in six games. His biggest goal of his career came in overtime of Game 2 of the Cup Final.

In the 2016-17 regular season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Sheary enjoyed a breakout season, setting career highs in games played (61), goals (23), assists (30) and points (53).

A native of Winchester, Mass., Sheary has played 105 regular-season games and recorded 63 points (30 goals, 33 assissts) in his first two seasons in the NHL. He joined the Penguins organization as an undrafted free agent in 2014.