Two-time Stanley Cup Champion available for the taking: Lightning shockingly place him on waivers

The Lightning are fresh off a big win last night, but that didn't stop the team from shockingly placing two-time Stanley Cup Champion Conor Sheary on waivers.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking to return to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they will be doing so with a lineup that features some key changes. Arguably the most notable change happened this summer when longtime captain Steven Stamkos fled via free agency. But even without their most important leader on the ice, the Lighting still remain so confident in this championship perspective, believing all of their current core can still win big in games.

Complexity has come into Tampa Bay's pursuit of success with one other layer: the financial. With the constant challenge of the NHL salary cap, tough roster decisions were made. Thus far, one of those decisions has come in the form of placing Stanley Cup-winning forward Conor Sheary on waivers, a move considered to be rather shocking. As noted by NHL insider Chris Johnston, with Sheary's contract carrying an average annual value of $2 million and one year remaining, this was indeed a tough call for the Lightning.

Sheary had joined the organization last season, playing in 57 games, where he posted a modest four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. Early this season, he hadn't been able to get on the score sheet in his first three appearances. That could be factoring into the decision to waive him. His contributions haven't stood out per se, but his experience and success in the past made it an interesting release.

If Sheary clears waivers without any team putting in a claim, he will be sent to the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL affiliate of the Lightning. This would mark his first time in the AHL since the 2015-2016 season when he played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. That was a breakout season for Sheary, as he was called up by the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he proved very instrumental in winning the Stanley Cup.

Conor Sheary has played 591 NHL games in his career, playing for multiple teams that include the Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Washington Capitals. He had his best season in the 2016-2017 season in which he totaled 53 points, 23 goals, and 30 assists. In fact, his points total from his career stands at 267, and thus he brings a lot of veteran presence with past successes, which makes for an interesting storyline as he pursues this next chapter of his career.

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