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Tampa Bay Lightning Unexpectedly Terminate Contract With Two-Time Cup Champion

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 1:14 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a tight salary cap, and as a result, they're set to terminate the contract of veteran winger Conor Sheary.

The Tampa Bay Lightning made the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again in 2025, but after a first-round defeat at the hands of Florida Panthers, they head into the off-season looking to make some major changes.

Now we know of at least one move the team are making, as Elliotte Friedman announced the team are placing veteran winger Conor Sheary on waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

With one-year left on his current deal at $2 million, the money just didn't make sense for Tampa Bay, and reportedly, the 33-year old asked to be moved to get a full-time chance at the NHL once again.

This past season, Sheary appeared in just five games for the Lightning, as he played 59 for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, and given that he's a two-time Stanley Cup winner, it makes sense that he wants a bigger opportunity.

Over his career, Sheary has played in 593 games with Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Washington and Tampa Bay, tallying 124 goals and 267 points in that time, showing that he can be a fantastic addition for any team in the NHL.

At $2 million, Sheary certainly comes in at a very cheap price, and for contending teams looking for depth wingers to play significant minutes in their middle or bottom six, Sheary certainly makes plenty of sense.

For now though, we'll see how this contract termination plays out, and if Sheary does indeed hit the free agency market, it's safe to say that he'll have plenty of interest as a cheap, depth piece for a team that's potentially contending for a Stanley Cup.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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