New York Rangers replacement for Conor Sheary 2025-26 season: Internal prospects lead the way

The New York Rangers face an interesting roster puzzle as they navigate the 2025-26 season with Conor Sheary skating on a one-year, $775,000 contract that will expire next summer. At 33 years old, the veteran forward has provided reliable depth and familiarity with Mike Sullivan’s system from their shared Pittsburgh Penguins days, but his future with the organization remains uncertain beyond this season. The Rangers are actively transitioning toward a younger core while maintaining their competitive window, creating natural friction points between veteran stability and prospect development.

General manager Chris Drury has engineered a roster reset that sent 10 players packing through trades over a seven-month span, fundamentally changing the team’s composition. This transformation reflects a clear organizational philosophy: the Rangers cannot afford to stand pat after last season’s disappointing performance. With Sheary’s contract situation representing just one of several pending decisions, the front office must carefully evaluate whether to extend the veteran or turn to younger, cheaper alternatives already within the system.

Why Conor Sheary’s roster spot faces scrutiny for 2025-26

Sheary’s current deal represents a classic “prove-it” contract for a player in his early thirties trying to extend an NHL career. The $775,000 cap hit barely registers on New York’s salary structure, yet every dollar matters as the team prepares for significant free agency opportunities in 2026. His role as a bottom-six depth forward who can play both wings provides valuable flexibility, but that same versatility exists in several younger players who represent the franchise’s future.

The Rangers face a crunch at left wing despite trading veteran Chris Kreider to Anaheim over the summer. Artemi Panarin remains the offensive engine, while Will Cuylle has earned an expanded role after delivering 20 goals and 301 hits last season. This leaves precious few opportunities for prospects trying to crack the NHL lineup, with Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, and Gabe Perreault all competing for what might be only one or two available spots.

Mike Sullivan’s system demands speed, defensive responsibility, and relentless forechecking—a style that favors younger legs over veteran savvy. While Sheary’s experience and penalty-killing ability provide stability, the coaching staff must balance short-term reliability against long-term development goals. The organization has learned painful lessons from rushing prospects like Lias Andersson and Vitali Kravtsov, but the pendulum has swung toward a more calculated approach to player development.

Internal candidates poised to replace Sheary’s production

The Rangers’ prospect pipeline has been significantly replenished through recent drafts and trades, giving Drury multiple options to fill Sheary’s potential departure. Unlike previous years when the AHL affiliate in Hartford served primarily as a repository for fading players, the current Wolf Pack roster is stacked with legitimate NHL prospects gaining valuable professional experience. This strategic shift means internal replacements have been groomed specifically for this moment.

Brett Berard seems destined for an NHL role after appearing in 35 games last season despite battling a labrum injury that limited his effectiveness. His healthy return to training camp has showcased the speed and tenacity that make him a perfect fit for Sullivan’s preferred playing style. Meanwhile, recent performances from Noah Laba have arguably made him the most impressive prospect in camp, potentially solving the team’s third-line center dilemma.

The organization’s depth chart reveals a clear hierarchy of ready-or-nearly-ready talent. While Sheary currently slots in as a veteran fallback option, players like Berard, Othmann, and Perreault all possess higher ceilings and more team-friendly contract situations. The Rangers must decide whether another year of Sheary’s steady but unspectacular production outweighs giving meaningful minutes to prospects who could become core pieces.

Brett Berard emerges as the natural successor

Berard’s journey through the Rangers system exemplifies the patient development approach Sullivan and Drury have championed. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, he spent two full seasons in Hartford before earning his first NHL call-up. His 35-game audition last season provided valuable experience, particularly playing through injury, but his current healthy form reveals the player the Rangers always projected.

The 23-year-old’s skill set directly addresses several team needs. His speed disrupts opposing breakouts, his defensive awareness makes him reliable in late-game situations, and his willingness to engage physically despite a 5’9” frame endears him to coaches. Sullivan praised his versatility during training camp, noting that “he can play anywhere in the lineup and be impactful.” This flexibility mirrors Sheary’s utility while adding an element of youthful energy the roster desperately needs.

Berard’s preseason performance, though less statistically flashy than Laba’s or Perreault’s, demonstrated NHL readiness in subtler ways. He blocked multiple shots in single shifts, killed penalties effectively, and showed no hesitation driving to dangerous areas. These are precisely the intangibles that win bottom-six jobs and keep players in lineups even when scoring slumps occur. His six goals and 10 points in limited action last season suggest offensive upside that could flourish with consistent playing time.

The salary cap implications heavily favor Berard over Sheary. While the veteran carries a $775,000 cap hit, Berard would earn significantly less on his entry-level deal, providing crucial savings for a team that needs every dollar of flexibility. This financial reality, combined with performance indicators, makes the young forward the logical replacement should Sheary depart after this season.

Center depth solutions that ripple through the roster

Noah Laba’s emergence during training camp has complicated roster decisions in the best possible way. The 22-year-old center led the team with five preseason points and showcased the two-way game that made him a standout at Colorado College. His potential insertion as the third-line center would allow Mika Zibanejad to remain on the right wing permanently, fundamentally altering the forward lineup construction and potentially eliminating the need for a winger like Sheary.

Juuso Pärssinen currently holds the inside track on the 3C position after Drury signed him to a two-year, $2.5 million contract this summer. However, Laba’s performance has pushed the coaching staff to reconsider their initial plans. Sullivan addressed this competition directly, stating “the question is always, ‘What’s the path that helps those players become impact players in the most expeditious fashion?’” This philosophy suggests performance will ultimately dictate lineup decisions, not contract status.

The Rangers’ depth chart flexibility creates multiple pathways to replace Sheary’s theoretical absence. Jonny Brodzinski’s ability to play all three forward positions makes him a valuable 13th forward candidate who could absorb some of Sheary’s responsibilities. Additionally, the team could deploy a fourth line featuring Matt Rempe, Sam Carrick, and Adam Edström—a physically imposing trio that would bring a different element than Sheary’s speed-based game.

External options and the free agency decision

While internal options dominate the conversation, Drury must remain open to external additions if prospects falter or injuries strike. The Rangers project to have significant cap space in 2026 free agency, a window they’ve been methodically preparing for by avoiding long-term commitments to aging role players. This financial flexibility represents the organization’s primary path to adding established talent, but it requires discipline in avoiding stopgap solutions that could block youth.

The free agent market for bottom-six forwards typically offers numerous affordable options each summer. However, the Rangers learned harsh lessons from previous regimes that overpaid for past-their-prime veterans. Sullivan’s system demands specific attributes—speed, hockey IQ, and defensive responsibility—that aren’t always readily available in the free agency pool. This reality strengthens the case for promoting from within, where players have been specifically developed for these roles.

Nevertheless, Drury faces pressure to field a competitive team around his expensive core. Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, and Mika Zibanejad are all entering their age-32 seasons or older, creating urgency to maximize their remaining prime years. If prospects like Othmann and Perreault aren’t ready for full-time NHL duty, the GM might need to explore short-term veteran solutions to maintain playoff viability. The challenge lies in finding players willing to accept limited roles without blocking the development timeline.

Development timeline and the path forward

The Rangers’ organizational philosophy has evolved toward a more patient, developmentally sound approach after years of prospect mismanagement. The “yo-yo game” of calling up players before they’re ready, only to send them back down when they struggle, damaged the confidence of former top picks like Lias Andersson and Vitali Kravtsov. Current management appears committed to avoiding these mistakes, even if it means veterans like Sheary temporarily block younger players.

Sullivan articulated this balanced approach during training camp discussions. “We can just throw guys in the lineup and say, ‘Figure it out,’” he explained, “or we can try to be a little bit more calculated and more proactive in trying to influence that development process so that player progresses in an optimal way.” This mindset suggests Berard, Laba, and others might begin the season in Hartford even if they’ve outperformed veterans in preseason, ensuring they’re truly prepared for NHL success.

The injury factor cannot be discounted when projecting Sheary’s replacement. NHL teams average significant man-games lost annually, and the Rangers’ forward depth will be tested throughout the 82-game schedule. Prospects who begin in Hartford can earn call-ups through strong AHL performance, making the “next man up” mentality more than just a cliché. This reality provides a natural runway for youth to contribute without the pressure of opening-night roster decisions.

What the Sheary decision means for the Rangers’ championship window

The choice between retaining Conor Sheary or fully committing to prospect development reflects a franchise at a critical inflection point. The Rangers have transitioned from Presidents’ Trophy contenders to a team fighting to re-establish itself as a legitimate threat in the Metropolitan Division. This reset requires difficult decisions about which veterans fit the long-term timeline and which positions must be turned over to youth.

Sheary’s situation encapsulates this broader organizational question. While his experience and system familiarity provide value, his age and contract status make him expendable in a way that would have been unthinkable two years ago. The team’s success this season won’t be measured solely by wins and losses, but by whether prospects like Brett Berard and Noah Laba prove ready for significant NHL roles. Their development represents the Rangers’ best path to sustained contention beyond the current core’s prime years.

Ultimately, the most likely scenario involves Sheary completing his current contract and the Rangers moving forward with internal replacements for the 2026-27 season. Brett Berard appears poised to claim the veteran’s roster spot, bringing similar versatility at a fraction of the cost while offering higher offensive upside. Noah Laba’s emergence could create additional lineup flexibility that makes wing depth less critical. The Rangers have positioned themselves well for this transition, transforming Hartford from a prospect wasteland into a legitimate development pipeline. The next wave of talent is ready—the only question is whether management will embrace the youth movement fully when the time comes.

For more analysis on the Rangers’ roster construction and upcoming decisions, check out our coverage of New York Rangers news and rumors for the 2025-26 season. Additionally, our deep dive into New York Rangers young forwards making a push for the 2025-26 season provides further context on the prospects competing for NHL roles. External reporting from The Athletic’s prospect analysis and Puckpedia’s contract details helped inform this examination of Sheary’s future and potential replacements.