Ryan Wilson: Conor Sheary is having one of the best offensive years in the analytics era Conor Sheary is having one of the best offensive years in the analytics era

Not bad for not being drafted.

Seriously.

Great to see 2 young players meshing with sid and being able to dominate at times. Exciting to think sheary and guentzel could even get better

So... when does he get some legit power play time? This postseason, or next year?

And over under on his contract... I'll put the mark at 3.5 million.

His story and success (and other Pens as well) can only help in the cause of signing NCAA guys just like Aston-Reese. They have a legit chance of playing with one of the two best C's in the world. They just have to bust their balls and give 110% and they could be millionaires in a winning environment playing the game they love at the highest level in just a short few years.


With Sheary I think Crosby does have a lot to do with his success. Not just on the ice but off as well. Would Sheary still be on RW's charts without Crosby? I dont think he would but I still think he'd be pretty effective no matter who he plays with.

So... when does he get some legit power play time? This postseason, or next year?

And over under on his contract... I'll put the mark at 3.5 million.
- Guile

Over by .5 to 1.0

Still not as good as Toews.


In seriousness though, despite the short sample size, is Guentzel even better than Sheary?

Even without the advanced stats, its easy to see Sheary is a great player. No need for people to keep harping about his limited sample size and his 'poor' regular season during his rookie season last year.

Shoutout to ma boy guentzel; I always knew he was going to be a solid top six player for the penguins.

So... when does he get some legit power play time? This postseason, or next year?

And over under on his contract... I'll put the mark at 3.5 million.
- Guile

^This

Him and Guentzel both need it.

The suggestion that sheary is a star at this point is false. While you cannot underestimate that he seems to play well with sid, let's not confuse this with "star player". I look at it this way. Sid is a lot like the Peyton Manning's and Tom Brady's of the football world. He does not need talent on the ice with him as much as he needs players that will do and be everything he requires. Sid thinks the whole ice sheet all the time. He maps it out and wants to place the pieces where he needs them. This is why he excels with players that fill a role and basically buy into what he wants. This isn't a slight on sid it's just he thinks the game above arguably anyone currently playing. Other star players struggle to mesh on a line with sid because they bring their own style and preconceived notions of how to play. Geno is a perfect example. Geno is the opposite of system...almost a "make it up as you go" kinda star. Geno is an incredible talent, one of the best in the world, but doesn't mesh at all with sid on a regular shift. Players like Duper, Kunitz and now rookies/youngsters like Guentzal and Sheary are more malleable for sid. The point is that let's not get carried away with sheary as a star, because it's no different than Kunitz as a star back when he had godly numbers. Let's enjoy it for what it is currently. We can revisit this when or if sheary can maintain this level of play over a huge sample size with and without sid.

Sheary has been a pleasant surprise. Frankly I didn't think he would progress to this level, let alone how quickly he has gotten this far. Any further development from here on is just gravy to me.

Guentzel is a little bit different, I had high hopes for him. He is only going to improve. It would not surprise me if he develops into a solid first line winger (he may be their already) or even is able to lead a line on his own as a center.

^This

Him and Guentzel both need it.
- DeflatedPucks

I've seen both on the second unit. But you cannot remove sid Geno phil or letang/Schultz. Kunitz or Hornie are there for a reason and sheary and guentzal won't fill that need on pp1. Pp2 they see the ice and will probably see more...so that's good enough.

Sheary has been a pleasant surprise. Frankly I didn't think he would progress to this level, let alone how quickly he has gotten this far. Any further development from here on is just gravy to me.

Guentzel is a little bit different, I had high hopes for him. He is only going to improve. It would not surprise me if he develops into a solid first line winger (he may be their already) or even is able to lead a line on his own as a center.
- Thunderbolt

Guentzal seems to have a very high ceiling. He could be a real star someday. I like his game a ton more than sheary's.

I've seen both on the second unit. But you cannot remove sid Geno phil or letang/Schultz. Kunitz or Hornie are there for a reason and sheary and guentzal won't fill that need on pp1. Pp2 they see the ice and will probably see more...so that's good enough.
- taleisyreXIII

I disagree with Kunitz. He shouldn't see the light of day on PP1 unit. His assist to Malkin on the pp vs Calgary aside was nice, but I don't see him adding any value, especially since Hornqvist is back.

The suggestion that sheary is a star at this point is false. While you cannot underestimate that he seems to play well with sid, let's not confuse this with "star player". I look at it this way. Sid is a lot like the Peyton Manning's and Tom Brady's of the football world. He does not need talent on the ice with him as much as he needs players that will do and be everything he requires. Sid thinks the whole ice sheet all the time. He maps it out and wants to place the pieces where he needs them. This is why he excels with players that fill a role and basically buy into what he wants. This isn't a slight on sid it's just he thinks the game above arguably anyone currently playing. Other star players struggle to mesh on a line with sid because they bring their own style and preconceived notions of how to play. Geno is a perfect example. Geno is the opposite of system...almost a "make it up as you go" kinda star. Geno is an incredible talent, one of the best in the world, but doesn't mesh at all with sid on a regular shift. Players like Duper, Kunitz and now rookies/youngsters like Guentzal and Sheary are more malleable for sid. The point is that let's not get carried away with sheary as a star, because it's no different than Kunitz as a star back when he had godly numbers. Let's enjoy it for what it is currently. We can revisit this when or if sheary can maintain this level of play over a huge sample size with and without sid.
- taleisyreXIII

TL; DR

Probably bad opinion tho.

I disagree with Kunitz. He shouldn't see the light of day on PP1 unit. His assist to Malkin on the pp vs Calgary aside was nice, but I don't see him adding any value, especially since Hornqvist is back.
- DeflatedPucks

Personally I think Guentzal should be on the no. 1 PP while Horny is out.

So... when does he get some legit power play time? This postseason, or next year?

And over under on his contract... I'll put the mark at 3.5 million.
- Guile

The problem is who do you remove to give 1 or both of them legit power play time? Both are already on the 2nd unit with Bonino so the only way for either of them to get more time would be if they supplanted Sid, Geno, Kessel or Hornqvist on the 1st unit. I love what both bring to the game but outside of possibly Hornqvist there's just no way you should even consider replacing anyone on the top unit with either of them.

So... when does he get some legit power play time? This postseason, or next year?

And over under on his contract... I'll put the mark at 3.5 million.
- Guile

I'm thinking 4.1

The suggestion that sheary is a star at this point is false. While you cannot underestimate that he seems to play well with sid, let's not confuse this with "star player". I look at it this way. Sid is a lot like the Peyton Manning's and Tom Brady's of the football world. He does not need talent on the ice with him as much as he needs players that will do and be everything he requires. Sid thinks the whole ice sheet all the time. He maps it out and wants to place the pieces where he needs them. This is why he excels with players that fill a role and basically buy into what he wants. This isn't a slight on sid it's just he thinks the game above arguably anyone currently playing. Other star players struggle to mesh on a line with sid because they bring their own style and preconceived notions of how to play. Geno is a perfect example. Geno is the opposite of system...almost a "make it up as you go" kinda star. Geno is an incredible talent, one of the best in the world, but doesn't mesh at all with sid on a regular shift. Players like Duper, Kunitz and now rookies/youngsters like Guentzal and Sheary are more malleable for sid. The point is that let's not get carried away with sheary as a star, because it's no different than Kunitz as a star back when he had godly numbers. Let's enjoy it for what it is currently. We can revisit this when or if sheary can maintain this level of play over a huge sample size with and without sid.
- taleisyreXIII

Couldn't agree with this more even though I know it won't be a popular opinion. Sheary individual is a very nice player but not a star and I honestly don't think he ever will be, what makes him a star is his ability to mesh with Sid. Enjoy it for what it is because if we build it up to an unrealistic expectation we can only be disappointed if/when it doesn't maintain.

I'm thinking 4.1
- madmike71

I think it's going to have a lot to do with his acceptance of his chemistry with Sid being his biggest asset. I wouldn't be surprised to see another team willing to go 4-4.5M for his services but that won't be feasible for the Pens. It's going to come down to him being willing to take a bit of a home town discount at around 3M to continue to play with Sid and build more value for once he hits UFA status.

I the possibility of an offersheet could also effect his price, being that it's only a 2nd round pick for a 3.75M offer the Pens may want to offer around that number just to avoid any possibility of someone trying to steal him.

"Personally I think Guentzal should be on the no. 1 PP while Horny is out."

I don't think it's close right now. JG has way better hands. While I appreciate what Horny does in front, it's what happens after the puck leaves the crease that kills me. He's not as fast on lose pucks nor does he have the passing ability of JG once the puck is retrieved.

I think Sheary is kind of like Schultz. His linemates and the system he plays in highlight his skills. He's no doubt a talented player, but playing in the system he's in plus playing with Crosby makes him pop. That makes him grow from a good player into a great player.

He's clearly a top-6 player right now, but maybe not a top-line player on a different team or with less complimentary linemates. Idon't think he'll price himself out of Pittsburgh. Great find for them.

"Personally I think Guentzal should be on the no. 1 PP while Horny is out."

I don't think it's close right now. JG has way better hands. While I appreciate what Horny does in front, it's what happens after the puck leaves the crease that kills me. He's not as fast on lose pucks nor does he have the passing ability of JG once the puck is retrieved.
- Thorny87

Even with Horny in the lineup you'd rather see Guentzal there?

I'm thinking 4.1
- madmike71

3.85 (Kunitz )